CPL planning to source citrus products from local farmers

CITRUS is the next fresh produce that City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) is looking at sourcing locally for its Stop N Shop (SNS) outlets in Port Moresby, says an official.
CPL Group management consultant Ajay Patel said all produce on SNS shelves were locally sourced from over 1,000 farmers except for apples and oranges.
“We got the project for citrus so oranges, mandarins, limes, that is coming out of Jiwaka and that will significantly reduce our imported produce, if we can get the quality and consistency right, that is important,” Patel said.
He said City Pharmacy Ltd was also working closely with Kundiawa-Gembolg MP William Onglo to buy brown onions from his district.
“We have a project that we are looking at with couple of MPs in trying to reduce our imported brown onions,” he said.
CPL chief executive officer Navin Raju said SNS remained committed to supporting local produce and farmers and it was working at the supply chain level.
“Three to four years ago, we were doing 40 per cent imported and 60 per cent local.
“Now we are going 80/20 where 80 per cent of our produce is (from) here except for apples and oranges,” Raju said.
“It is our (aim) to get in more local produce.”