A proposed produce hub could strengthen the supply of locally grown food to Vanuatu’s tourism and hospitality industry as businesses continue to face unreliable access to fresh local produce.

From a press release it states that the proposal emerged during a meeting between the Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity, and tourism and hospitality operators in Port Vila this week.

Hotel, restaurant and café operators identified inconsistent supplies of vegetables, eggs, beef and seafood as some of the biggest challenges facing the industry. Many said they continue to rely on imported products because local supply is often insufficient or unreliable.

The General Manager of Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu and member of the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association, Rashmi Tulsiani, said the resort is sometimes unable to source up to 1,000 eggs locally when needed, highlighting weaknesses in the current supply chain.

Operators also pointed to the high cost of locally grown vegetables, difficulties sourcing seafood despite Vanuatu’s abundant marine resources, and inconsistent supplies of fruit for juice production.

One of the key recommendations from the meeting was the establishment of a central produce hub in Port Vila that would act as the link between farmers and tourism businesses.

Under the proposed model, hotels, restaurants and cafés would place orders through the hub instead of dealing with multiple individual farmers. Businesses would also provide forecasts of their produce requirements several months in advance, allowing the hub to coordinate planting schedules with farmers and ensure a more reliable supply throughout the year.

The system is also expected to reduce situations where farmers produce excess quantities of the same crops while businesses are forced to import food due to shortages of other products.

Chairman of the 2026 National Agriculture Expo Committee and Director of the Department of Livestock, Lonny Bong, invited tourism operators to attend the National Agriculture Expo on Maewo from 2 to 5 August, where they will meet directly with farmers during business-to-business sessions and learn more about registered commercial farming opportunities.

Closing the meeting, Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity Ian Wilson acknowledged the concerns raised by operators and said the Government is committed to strengthening partnerships between agriculture and tourism through initiatives such as the Farm to Institution Policy.

He said the meeting marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between the two sectors, with further discussions planned to improve local food supply chains and create greater opportunities for farmers and tourism businesses alike.