The Government is planning to establish two produce hubs in Port Vila and Santo as a possible solution to improve the supply of local food to Vanuatu’s growing tourism sector.

The proposed hubs would connect local farmers directly with hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses, helping to create a more organised and reliable supply of locally produced food.

The plan was highlighted during the Business-to-Business Forum at the National Agriculture Expo, where tourism operators raised concerns about shortages of local produce, inconsistent supply and varying quality.

These challenges have resulted in some hotels and restaurants relying on imported food to meet the demands of their guests.

Produce Hubs Proposed to Bridge the Supply Gap

Speaking at the closing of the National Agriculture Expo, Minister of Agriculture Hon. Ian Wilson said the proposed produce hubs could help address these issues by providing a central point where farmers could bring their products and buyers could access them more easily.

“It will make it easier for our buyers and resorts to purchase food to serve the tourists who come to the country. Farmers will not need to search for markets in Port Vila or Santo, but can simply bring their produce to the hub.”

Minister Wilson said the hubs would not be managed by a Government department, with the private sector expected to take the lead in their operation.

He said the Government’s role would be to create an environment that supports development and allows the private sector to manage and drive the initiative.

Director of Tourism Paul Pio welcomed the proposed partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the tourism sector, saying the industry was gradually recovering and growing, which would increase demand for locally produced food.

“We want to support the work and initiatives already underway. There are Government policies and initiatives within the Ministry of Agriculture that we want to link more closely with the tourism sector. As tourism continues to recover and grow, there will be greater demand for local food.”

The idea of establishing a central hub for local produce was also welcomed by tourism operators.

Jill’s Café owner Elizabeth Worwor said such a hub would allow farmers from different islands and communities to bring their produce to one location, where restaurants and other buyers could purchase products wholesale.

“We have already discussed the idea of creating a hub where restaurants can buy wholesale products such as tomatoes, fish and other produce, while farmers from different islands can bring their products to the same place.”

The two proposed produce hubs in Port Vila and Santo are expected to provide farmers with greater access to markets while helping hotels and restaurants secure a more consistent and reliable supply of locally produced food.