By Kefiloe Kajane
A nutritionist by profession, ‘Matumane Matela is the founder of Lekhoakhoa Farm Produce, a vegetable cutting business that has become the rave of taken social media.
Matela produces some of the vegetables she cuts herself. Others are sourced from other local vegetables producers.
Speaking to theReporter, she explained that her love for cooking and healthy lifestyle motivated her to start her business as she knew it would also motivate other people to eat healthy foods.
Realising how busy she was with the production, she resorted to giving other people to join her trade of cutting the vegies while they have knocked off their normal duties of employ.
“At first I cut my vegetables, packaged them and posted them on social media and the response was overwhelming. The next thing I knew it was a business. I cut all types of vegetables and fruits according to the customer’s preference.
“Starting this business was not hard at all but what has been challenging is the packing because it is expensive due to lack of suppliers of packaging in the country. Also another challenge is that our vegetables are cut manually so it is a lot of work and time consuming. I wish we can have more suppliers of vegetables in the country because sometimes it is challenging to source vegetables from somewhere else as there are no much varieties in the country,” she remarked.
She further said that when cutting vegetables for her customers she also makes sure to recommend a recipe on how to cook them. She said she would like to one day see her products being sold in big supermarkets while also being exported.
She also said that she would like to have a packaging machine which will help improve the shelf life of her vegetables and thus make packing easier.
She emphasized that for her selling these vegetables is not only about the business side but also to promote healthy living because vegetables and fruits are good for everyone’s health.
She indicated that she sells pre-cut vegetables for individual customers and also for big events like weddings, funerals and birthday parties.
Her business can be found on Facebook under the name ‘Lekhoakhoa Farm Produce’ or be contacted on the numbers 63380364/58949385
