On December 14, 2024, Rikolto, in collaboration with the Ha Nam Sub-Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development, organised a networking event that connected approximately 20 farmer cooperatives producing safe vegetables with fruit and vegetable retailers at Bau market in Phu Ly city, Ha Nam province. The event aimed to foster the supply, distribution, and consumption of good quality, safe, and traceable products, contributing to the sustainable and safe food supply chain development in traditional markets.
Our cooperative currently supplies a wide range of products to major supermarkets in Hanoi, including Go Thang Long, Winmart, and Aeon Mall. Collaboration between retailers at Bau market and local farmer cooperatives will enhance consumer access to high-quality products.
During the event, retailers highlighted their need for safe, hygienic, diverse, and stable product sources. Several participants expressed interest in visiting production sites to better understand farming practices and access product quality.
The participating cooperatives, including Phu Van, Ha Vy, Thanh Tan, Dong Du, Lien Hiep, Thanh Ha, and Bao An displayed a variety of products, such as tomatoes, cauliflower, gourds, beans, leafy greens, microgreens, and fruits. Each product was carefully packaged and labeled with full traceability details. Notably, cooperatives like Thanh Ha, Lien Hiep, and Phu Van, which have extensive experience in safe vegetable production, have been supported by Rikolto in sustainable farming training and the formation of core groups to collaboratively monitor product quality using the PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) model.
The event yielded promising results, with many retailers placing orders with the participating cooperatives. For instance, Tuan Xuan vegetable store committed to expanding its fruit product portfolio with suppliers from Bao An and Thanh Ha cooperatives, citing their stable sources and reasonable costs. Both cooperatives and retailers expressed strong interest in future networking events to secure safe and diverse produce while fostering connections with potential buyers.
A representative from the Ha Nam Sub-Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development proposed organizing future events at Bau market’s entrance to enable consumers to access fresh and safe products directly and expanding such activities to other markets within the project’s framework.
Cooperation among actors in the safe food value chain is essential to diversify products, reduce transportation costs, and enhance market value for both sellers and producers.
The initiative is part of Rikolto’s project “Developing inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems in Ha Nam province” (2022-2026). The project aims to create more inclusive and sustainable urban food environments and promote healthy diets, especially for women, youth, and vulnerable groups, by enhancing capacities and building supplier linkages at traditional markets.
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