Leading retail chains buy fruits directly from farmers

NONTHABURI, March 23 (TNA) – The Commerce Ministry supports major retailers and a fruit exporter to buy fruits directly from farmers in accordance with the government’s policy to drive the grassroots economy. Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said the Internal Trade Department held a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ministry and leading retailers, a major fruit exporter and the agricultural product central markets to buy fruits, which will be released to the market in the upcoming harvest season. He said it is a good sign for such cooperation from Tops Market, The Mall, Big C, Tesco Lotus, Makro and Talaad Thai wholesale market. Under the cooperation, farmers have the market channels to sell their fruit and learn to improve their fruit quality, packaging and cultivation plan to meet the market demand under the market –oriented policy. Moreover, buyers can also plan their marketing campaign in advance. The agreement involves trade of at least 330,000 tonnes of fruit such as durians, mangosteens and rambutans, worth about 20 billion baht in total. (TNA)