It is a widely accepted truism that the sky is blue, and that if you seek the most affordable fruit and vegetables, a trip to Mbare Musika is essential. It is a commonly held belief that Mbare Musika offers prices that are simply unbeatable. We at Zimpricecheck.com have done our due diligence, keeping a close eye on Food Lovers, specifically the Greendale branch, and we are here to tell you, the situation is more nuanced than that. In fact, for many common fruits and vegetables, Food Lovers not only matches Mbare’s prices but often undercuts them, rendering the trip to the venerable marketplace less necessary.

Our research indicates that a range of items, including some of the more select varieties like Fuji apples and fresh herbs, which are in abundant supply at Food Lovers due to consistent consumer demand, are either difficult to find or altogether absent at Mbare Musika. This availability, coupled with competitive pricing, may cause you to reconsider your old shopping habits.

Now, we understand some of you may be sceptical, and rightly so. Thus, we have compiled a list of items we surveyed, comparing their prices at Food Lovers and Mbare Musika on January 25, 2024, for clarity:

Please note: Mbare Musika prices were sometimes estimated due to the marketplace’s use of non-standard measurements (e.g., cups, gallons, buckets). We have used our extensive knowledge of the market to provide the most accurate estimations possible. Please also be aware that fruit and vegetable prices can change frequently and even within a day. The data presented here was accurate on the day of our survey.

Food Lovers: A Viable Alternative?

For shoppers residing in the northern suburbs, we strongly suggest making Food Lovers your first port of call before venturing to Mbare Musika. Make sure to check our detailed Mbare Musika page to get the latest prices at the market. We update the prices bi-weekly with the latest pricing information. We believe that Food Lovers offers a superior shopping experience, and here’s why:

• Professional and Standardised Service
  Food Lovers offers a consistent shopping experience. At Mbare, pricing can fluctuate depending on perceived wealth, with vendors often charging higher prices to those they deem more affluent.
• Assured Quality
  Quality is not guaranteed at Mbare Musika, and buyers must carefully inspect their purchases. Product quality can vary widely from farmer to farmer. Food Lovers, conversely, maintains consistent quality standards.
• Parking
  Finding parking at Mbare Musika is notoriously difficult and often requires navigating a chaotic and unregulated system. ‘Parking marshals’ and the local council frequently demand payments. At Food Lovers, there is usually ample parking available free of charge.
• Accessibility
  Food Lovers is easily accessible even during peak shopping times, whereas Mbare Musika can be a challenge to navigate due to heavy vehicular, pushcart, and pedestrian traffic.
• Hygiene
  The recent incessant rains have made Mbare Musika rather muddy and, some would argue, unsanitary. Fruits and vegetables are often stored in less than ideal conditions. Food Lovers, conversely, adheres to high hygiene standards, with most produce stored in refrigerated conditions. It is worth mentioning that a new Mbare Musika stall is being constructed which offers much better sanitation but is still not fully operational.
• Courteous Service
  Staff at Food Lovers are typically polite and helpful, allowing you to shop at your own pace. At Mbare, the farmers rarely receive payment directly; middlemen, known as makoronyera, take a portion of their proceeds in exchange for ‘hawking’.
• Security
  Mbare Musika is known for its high rates of crime, including con artists and thieves who often target shoppers who are perceived to be from other areas. Food Lovers provides professional security, including security at the parking area.

Historically, Mbare Musika has held clear advantages, particularly regarding pricing. However, companies like Food Lovers have narrowed that gap, appealing to the upmarket shopper. If these trends continue, they might attract middle and lower income shoppers as well. Mbare still holds its own when it comes to the sheer variety of items, with goods like madora, matemba, dried grains, not often found at Food Lovers. One big advantage that Mbare Musika still holds is its location. The location of the nation’s bus terminus makes Mbare the nation’s hub. Conversely, Food Lovers’s out-of-the-way location makes it hard to access by public transport.