Root crop festival promotes, support local farmers: CPL

THE Stop & Shop (SNS) root crop festival is being run during this month to promote and support local farmers, according to City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL).
The month-long (Feb 1- 28) initiative will see participating outlets place focus on locally-sourced root vegetables.
SNS advertising manager Regina Narakobi said the promotion would include displays, sample tasting and information sessions.
“Our root vegetables are sourced from some of the richest and most organic soils and grown by Papua New Guinean farmers,” she said.
Narakobi said SNS shops had been supporting local farmers for over six years since CPL Group acquired the supermarket chain.
“The journey from garden to grocery bag is always cherished by the CPL Group as we acquire local produce from the Highlands.”
CPL Group chief executive officer Navin Raju said promoting local produce would also encourage healthy eating habits and choices as well as helping local growers.
He said the competition would see the displays at 10 SNS branches vying for prizes while farmers participating in the festival would network with consumers and potential clients.
Farmer Lucy Hongoro of Watabung in Daulo, Eastern Highlands, said promoting local food supported local producers.
“Local farmers can produce fresh and healthy food ourselves going for cheap prices and quality,” she said.
“This will encourage more people to go into agriculture as there are markets for their crops after harvesting.”