A safe farm produce market opens at Binh Phu Park in HCM City’s District 6 on May 6. — VNS Photo Xuan Huong

The HCM City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development opened the city’s sixth safe farm produce market in Binh Phu Park in District 6 on May 6.

Each market, held on Sundays, has 20-30 local and other co-operatives and farms taking part and selling fruits and vegetables, poultry, pork, and seafood.

Nguyen Van Truc, deputy director of the department, said only products with food safety certification such as VietGap and GlobalGap can take part.

The fair organisers regularly check the quality of produce and randomly test fruit and vegetable samples for plant protection residues, he said.

The department plans to set up 10 such markets to bring together producers and buyers, he said.

The department opened the first market in August 2016 at Dong Ho Restaurant in District 10, he recalled.

Around 500-1,000 people shop at each market every week, he said, adding that exhibitors also sign supply agreements with canteens and restaurants.

At the opening ceremony on Sunday, the Saigon Agricultural Products Chain Joint Stock Company signed agreements with four traditional markets, Binh Tay, Binh Tien, Minh Phung, and Phu Lam, to supply safe farm produce.

The other four markets are at Le Van Tam Park in District 1, Le Thi Rieng Cultural Park in District 10, Tan Binh District Sport and Cultural Centre, and Quarter 6, Street No.19, in Binh Tan District’s Binh Tri Dong B Ward. — VNS