HCM CITY – It is important for wholesale markets in HCM City to ensure adequate supply of goods and monitor food safety during the Lunar New Year early next year, according to authorities.

According to the Bình Điền wholesale market’s management board, the volume of goods coming to the market during Tết is expected to increase by 20-25 per cent compared to normal days.

It could even rise by 50-60 per cent to almost 4,000 tonnes of goods per night for several days before Tết, it said.

Pork and vegetable volumes could double and fruits could quadruple while seafood is likely to reduce, it said.

With the enormous supply, prices are unlikely to fluctuate much, it said.

Thủ Đức wholesale market currently has 1,384 stalls and receives around 3,700 tonnes of products a day.

In addition to local goods, it also gets products imported from the US, China, Thailand, India, New Zealand, Canada, and other countries.

During the upcoming Tết holidays, the volume could go up to 7,000 -7,500 tonnes a day.

According to the Hóc Môn wholesale market, to ensure adequate supply of items like pork, bitter melon, cucumber, and fruits, many vendors in the market had been making preparations six months before Tết.

They had signed agreements with local farmers to ensure steady and safe supply of foods, it said.

More products from northern provinces would be introduced this year, it added.

Food safety checks

Bình Điền wholesale market will begin to carry out more frequent checks for food hygiene and safety a month before the Lunar New Year, and collaborate with the city Food Safety Management Board to control food quality before and during the festival.

Besides checking the outside of products for freshness, it will also organise quick tests of various products for pesticide residues.

The management board will also check on origin and listed prices of many products.

Many of the wholesale markets said they would assign more workers to clear garbage and clean the drainage and market floors among other tasks to ensure hygiene.

The Lunar New Year falls on February 5 next year. – VNS