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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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