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Much fresh food produce is sold in wholesale markets managed by the
AFCD, the Vegetable Marketing Organisation and the Fish Marketing Organisation.
The Western Wholesale Food Market and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food
Market Phase I are the two biggest market complexes developed and managed
by the department. Each is an integration of several markets. The Western
Wholesale Food Market, for example, accommodates markets for freshwater
fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs and allows buyers to purchase
a variety of fresh food produce under one roof.
Apart from these market complexes, the AFCD also manages
two temporary wholesale markets, one in North District and the other in
Cheung Sha Wan, for vegetables and poultry respectively.
During the year, the Government's wholesale markets
handled 290 000 tonnes of vegetables, 63 000 tonnes of poultry, 35 000
tonnes of freshwater fish and fisheries products, 113 000 tonnes of fruit
and 51 000 tonnes of eggs. The total value amounted to $4.2 billion.
The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is established
as a non-governmental body providing vegetable wholesale marketing facilities.
It operates a vegetable wholesale market at Cheung Sha Wan, set up under
the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance on a non-profit-making
basis. It charges commission on the vegetables sold and in return provides
trading facilities, transport, accounting, and pesticides residue testing
services to farmers and traders. Any surplus is ploughed back into the
development of farming and the provision of scholarships for farmers'
children. In 2003, the organisation handled 251 000 tonnes of vegetables
valued at $779 million.
The Fish Marketing Organisation is a statutory body
established under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance. It provides orderly
marketing services at its seven wholesale markets. Revenue comes from
charging commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled
back into the industry through the provision of low-interest loans to
fishermen, improved services and facilities in the markets and scholarships
for fishermen and their children. During the year, 41 850
tonnes of marine fish valued at $740 million were sold through the organisation. |
