The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has opened three new retail shops for selling "Local Harvest" fresh products, including vegetables, fruits, poultry and eggs. The move is part of ADAFSA's efforts to continue providing consumers with their needs of food products, and to help the emirate's farmers market and sell their produce in local markets.

ADAFSA outsourced the management of "Local Harvest" retail shops to a private company that has a great reputation in selling fresh products. The first o retail shop opened in Al Shahama, Abu Dhabi, and the second is located at Al Amra area in Al Ain, while the third one is located at Zayed City in Al Dhafra Region, bringing the number of "Local Harvest" retail shops to eight branches, four in Abu Dhabi, two in Al Ain and two in Al Dhafra. Other retail shops are also expected to open soon in line with ADAFSA's plan to provide fresh products for the largest number of consumers, and to enhance the local products' competitiveness in the market.

These retail shops are committed to all precautionary measures. The number of shoppers is limited to about 30% of the shop capacity, and a social distance at least 1.5 metres is kept between shoppers.

 "Opening new retail shops for selling "Local Harvest" products translates ADAFSA's commitment to providing foods, including vegetables and fruits, to all consumers according to the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, H.E. Nasser Mohammed Al Junaibi ADAFSA Executive Director of Investment and Trade Sector said

He added that enabling a private company to run and manage the retail shops is consistent with Abu Dhabi Government's strategic goals aimed at ensuring the complementarity of public and private entities' roles, enhancing the capabilities of the national private sector and increasing its contribution to the food security system, for the welfare  of all nationals and residents. 

"Given the increasing demand for vegetables and fruits, and to support farmers, ADAFSA strives, under the diligent follow-up of H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of ADAFSA, to market and provide local produce to consumers at all times and under all circumstances," Al Junaibi stated.

We are keen to diversifying marketing channels to provide local products for the public in various ways and means, whether temporary means such as the weekly farmers' markets that are held during the winter from November to May, or permanent retail shops  at the residential areas in Abu Dhabi Emirate such as "Local Harvest" outlets . In addition, that ADAFSA provides wholesalers in in the Al Mina market with the fresh local products' daily basis, he added.

Al Junaibi noted that ADAFSA seeks to utilize its advanced infrastructure and retail shops in marketing local products, maintaining market stability and preventing food shortages, especially in vegetables and fruits. Throughout the year, ADAFSA is committed to supplying products to markets, particularly with the approaching of the holy month of Ramadan, which witnesses an increase in the demand for food products, especially for vegetables and fruits. 
"ADAFSA established "Local Harvest" retail shops dedicated for selling local products in 2011, to be one of the important channels for marketing Abu Dhabi farms' produce of fresh vegetables and fruits. Moreover, the retail shops are essential in enhancing the efficiency of supply chain from farm to consumer, and in developing the value chain of local product to ensure its competitiveness in the market," Al Junaibi further said. 

He highlighted ADAFSA's interest in supply chain, which includes providing year-round substantive and logistical support for farmers to grow various high-quality crops, in addition to providing marketing-related services such as packing, packaging and distribution.

"Due to this complementary policy, ADAFSA succeeded, in cooperation with farmers, in diversifying the cultivated crops in Abu Dhabi. Today, over 42 types of high-quality vegetables and fruits are cultivated in Abu Dhabi, many of which are produced from organic farms and Global G.A.P. certified farms," Al Junaibi clarified.

Al Junaibi urged farm owners to join local products supply contract program, which allows Abu Dhabi farmers to supply their produce easily and at competitive prices to ADAFSA, which is responsible for marketing these products through its various marketing channels.

Given the closure of vegetable markets within the precautionary measures taken by the government, supplying farm produce to ADAFSA has become the best option for all farmers. Contractors with ADAFSA can supply products to 17 centers near their farms, Al Junaibi concluded.