Shoppers at Le Thi Rieng safe farm produce market in HCM City’s District 10 (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Agriculture and Rural Developmentplans to set up 10 safe farm produce markets that will open every weekend tobring together producers and buyers of clean agricultural products.
The first market opened in August 2016 at the Dong Ho Restaurant in District10. Initially it opened every other week, but now it opens on Saturdays.
Similar markets now operate every Sunday at Le Van Tam park in District 1 andLe Thi Rieng park in District 10. Each market features around 20 producers and traders selling rice, vegetables,fruits, poultry, pork, and seafood.
Around 500-1,000 people shop at each market every week, bringing in 175-265million VND (7,700-11,600 USD) in revenues, according to the department.
Le Ha Mong Ngoc, director of Nam Viet (Vietnamese mushroom) Biotech JSC andhead of Nam Viet Cooperative, sells her produce at these markets though theyare also sold to major supermarkets.
Selling there is a good way to learn about the market and consumer, she said. “Customers who shop at these markets are highly aware of food safety andhygiene.”
Over time customers place orders by phone, and their purchases are delivered totheir home, she said.
Mai Thi Thuy Trang, owner of Tai Thinh Phat, a prawn, crab and fish supplier toseafood processing and export companies in Ca Mau province, said though herproducts meet the very strict requirements of international markets, she stillfound it difficult to sell locally because consumers did not trust sellers.
“But now, thanks to these markets with strict food safety regulations, customertrust has increased. We now can convince consumers easier. As long as we ensure product quality,customers will come back," she said.
The three safe farm produce markets are running smoothly, and the departmentplans to have 10 by 2020. Four more will soon open in Districts 2, 7, Tan Binh, and Binh Tan.
When asked why few such markets are being opened though demand for clean andorganic agricultural produce is high, an official from the department’s Centrefor Counselling and Support for Agriculture blamed it on the many requirementsfor setting up a standard market.
He pointed out the location has to be large and needs to have parking space, aplace to store traders’ equipment and electricity to refrigerate meat andseafood, yet be affordable for household and small businesses.
The department has called for greater participation in the markets by householdbusinesses and farmers in the Mekong Delta to diversify the products sold.
To qualify as sellers, participants need to prove their products are clean andsafe, belong to the city’s safe food chain and meet VietGAP (Vietnamese goodagriculture practices) or GlobalGAP standards.
Samples of products sold at the market are regularly collected for tests by theFood Safety Management Board.
Of 540 vegetable and fruit samples it collected over several months startinglast July, five were found to have organic phosphate and carbamate exceedingpermitted levels.
Their growers have since been banned, and to reenter the markets they have todo another residue test before seeking the department’s permission.
“We have received many applications to participate in these markets. But manybusinesses cannot provide certifications [for VietGAP standards],” said Bui Van My,head of the Centre for Counseling and Support for Agriculture.
“Even businesses which have been accepted to the markets can be removed iftheir certifications expire. They can only resume selling at the markets whentheir certifications are renewed.”
In the long run, the department plans to privatise these markets and onlymonitor food safety, he added.-VNA
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