Don't fret if you find that prices of kailan and chyesim at
local NTUC fairprice supermarkets are double what they used to
be.
You could be looking at the organic version of the produce,
which Fairprice launched today under its new house, Pasar
Organic.
The vegetables come from Thailand and certified organic by the
new NTUC FairPrice Organic Assurance Programme.
Fairprice staff have also undergone training on proper handling
of the produce.
NTUC Fairprice chairman Ng Ser Miang with more.
"The organic demand is growing very rapidly. We've had a sale of
4 mil last year, we're expecting the sales to be about 8 mil this
year so there's a huge demand, increasing demand from Sinagporeans
who want healthier food who wants better things in life. We expect
Pasar Organic to have sales of about 2 mil this year. We're going
directly to the farms we put in our own certification, we are able
to on the average sell our produce about fifty percent cheaper than
the average of other organic products."
However, it might take a while for shoppers to be convinced.
938LIVE found that on average, while it was around fifteen
percent cheaper than other imported organic produce, Pasar Organic
costs two times more than the non-organic produce sold in the
supermart.
"If I'm already going to buy organic food, I might as well spend
the other ten or fifteen percent extra to buy those from US or UK
and if I compare this to the normal non organic food its double the
price what so I don't see why I should buy the organic
food...."
"I'm already spending the money on normal organic food, and I've
been buying the same brand for a few years now... so even if
there's this new brand that's a bit cheaper I don't think I'll
switch..."
"I think it's too expensive and I don't eat organic food anyway
what...."
"Ok la I will consider since maybe its like ten to fifteen
percent cheaper, I mean ok I won't mind trying."