The South African Union of Food Markets (SAUFM) convened its annual conference, which was held from 25 – 29 November 2024 in Durban, Province of KwaZulu Natal. The conference was hosted under the theme: ‘Local Economic Development through Food Security’. SAUFM is a body that is responsible for promoting the professional management of markets to benefit all participants in the fresh produce industry. Furthermore, it is also subjected to the transformation guidelines, statutory levies and other relevant policies on transformation within the agricultural sector, which are implemented by National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC).