Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ9: Unsold vegetables in Vegetable Marketing Organisation's wholesale market
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(November 4):
Question:
Recently, it has been reported that the Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO)
discards on average more than one tonne of unsold vegetables every day. In this
connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the existing mechanism for disposing of unsold vegetables by VMO;
(b) whether VMO will take the initiative to contact food banks and the other
relevant charitable organisations to arrange for donation of unsold vegetables;
and
(c) how VMO determines the vegetable throughput to be sold in its wholesale
markets, and whether it has made timely adjustment to the vegetable throughput
according to market demand, so as to reduce wastage?
Reply:
President,
(a) & (b) There are about 230 vegetable wholesalers operating in the Vegetable
Marketing Organisation (VMO). They import fresh vegetables every day and conduct
wholesale business at VMO's wholesale market in Cheung Sha Wan. At close of
business, wholesalers will hand over unsold vegetables of the day to VMO. If the
wholesaler is willing to donate unsold vegetables to charitable organisations
(including "food banks"), interested charitable organisations will be notified
to collect free of charge from the wholesale market those vegetables which are
still of good quality. VMO may also provide free delivery service. VMO will
dispose of vegetables of poor quality, and unsold vegetables which wholesalers
declined to donate.
At present, the wholesale market concerned handles about 30,000 baskets of
vegetables every day. The amount of vegetables disposed of by VMO for the
wholesalers averages about 80 baskets a day, accounting for less than 0.3% of
throughput.
(c) VMO's role is to provide a transaction platform for vegetable wholesalers
and buyers. Wholesalers will make their own decision on the quantity to be
imported according to market demand and supply. This is a business decision
which the Government should not interfere. That said, VMO will continue to
encourage wholesalers to donate their unsold vegetables to reduce wastage.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:41
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