Factors Influencing Fruit Profitability at Tshakhuma and Khumbe Markets, Limpopo Province, South Africa

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing profitability of fruits sold at Tshakhuma and Khumbe Markets in Limpopo Province of South Africa. Some 91 market operators were interviewed, 67 from Tshakhuma and 24 from Khumbe Market. Fruit profitability was influenced by: (1) method of acquisition of the fruits by market operators (own production vs other sources); (2) expenditure on fruit acquisition (increased spending resulted in loss of profit); (3) fruit storage (increased storage resulted in loss of profit), and (4) use of the cooperative approach (associated with increased profit). Socio-economic characteristics of market operators also influenced profitability of sold fruits. The characteristics for market operators were described in terms of: (a) gender, where majority of operators (91.2%) were women, (b) age with 80% ≤ 60 years old and (c) household size that were mostly large (6-7 persons) and provided for family labour. Low levels of education necessitate training for increased fruit profitability.