Country not ready to export fruit, vegetables

IT is interesting to read news articles promoting local produce as opposed to buying imported fruit and vegetables.
What many do not understand, especially local farmers, preserving fruit and vegetables requires specialised refrigeration, transportation and storage facilities along with highly-trained staff to look after them.
The big grocery chains overseas have invested millions in their respective fruit and vegetable industries.
Further to this, refrigerated supply chains and specialised carriage are of the utmost importance.
Most supermarkets in Papua New Guinea do not have the right equipment that will maintain the freshness of fruit and vegetables.
Supermarket staff are not trained to properly handle fresh produce and as a result, shrinkage will be very high.
I have noted that most local kaukau and potatoes in shops and markets are still loaded with dirt and are usually of poor quality.
Some local vegetables, including broccoli, rot before they are put on shelves.Broccoli is a flower and should be immediately refrigerated after harvest.
Failing to do so will result in yellowing.
I have also noted unripe local avocados being stored in refrigerators.
They are then dumped into bins for customers to select and buy.
Most of these avocados rot before they ripe.
It will take many years before PNG is in a better position to grow and export quality produce.

Woolworths Save Man,
Boroko