NEWS RELEASE 21 June 2002
EPPING FRESH PRODUCE MARKET TURN OVER R520 MILLION IN 2002 / 2003 FINANCIAL YEAR
Dues and tariffs at Cape Town's Epping Fresh Produce Market are to increase slightly to meet increased operational costs of 7,5 per cent in the 2002/2003 financial year.
"The small increases will ensure that facilities and services are in place to reach a targeted turnover of R520 million in fresh produce sales in 2002/2003," said the City's Executive Committee member responsible for Trading Services, Councillor David Erleigh.
"From this turnover we aim to generate an estimated income of R30,8 million," he said.
The increases - on average below the rate of inflation and in the region of 7,5 per cent - were approved by the City of Cape Town Council at its monthly meeting in June.
The Epping Fresh Produce Market is a "ring-fenced" trading service run by the City of Cape Town. It generates income from market dues and tariffs for services supplied to clients.
Dues and tariffs are revised annually to keep abreast of inflation and to ensure the continued viability of the market. Tariff changes are set after consultation with other national markets and major roleplayers in the fresh produce industry.
"To ensure that services are not rendered at a loss, most tariffs have been increased by about 7,5 per cent," Councillor Erleigh said. "Only three tariffs have been increased by more than 7 per cent and they reflect an actual increase after inflation of only one per cent".
Examples
The hire of tractors goes up by 7,5% and the hire of trays is unchanged at .02 cents. Market dues payable for fresh produce sold on the market floorwill remain unchanged at 5%.
"We are aware that we must run the market on business lines, and we believe the increases, where applicable, are very reasonable and well within the inflation rate," Councillor Erleigh said.
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