Tops and Central Food Hall under Central Retail continue their efforts to help Thai farmers who have been affected by the COVID-19 situation. The target has been increased by 35% for direct purchase of Longan from the North, Rambutan, Long Kong and Mangosteen from the South, and the fruits will be sold both online and offline to ensure the products reach consumers’ hands as fast as possible for “Happy Consumers, Happy Farmers”.

Stephane Coum, CEO of Central Food Retail Company Limited under Central Retail, said, “The COVID-19 situation has impacted every sector over the past two years. In particular, farmers have been seriously affected, and one of the biggest challenges they face is decreased income due to smaller markets, both local and international. Travel restrictions also make it harder for buyers to access their farms, while transport is more complicated than ever. As a result, there are many products left unsold and the prices have dropped. Because of this, Tops and Central Food Hall are concerned about our local farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and community enterprises. Therefore, to ease their problems, we have offered assistance to local farmers so that they can get through this crisis. We have a measure to help local farmers by increasing our purchase of four types of fruits – Longan, Rambutan, Long Kong and Mangosteen, a 35% increase from before. These fruits are abundant at the moment, and the buying prices have dropped compared to last year. Our regional procurement teams work fast to directly purchase their produce straight from their farms and offer fair prices. We also overcome logistic challenges by using Tops trucks to bring in their produce to our fresh produce distribution center, and this helps reduce logistic expenses and minimize the farmers’ risk during interprovincial trips. Their produce will be sold at all Tops locations, online via www.tops.co.th and on Grab application to ensure the produce can reach our consumers quickly. Tops has helped 1,220 mangosteen, long kong, rambutan and longan farmers.

Tops also participates in the “Happy Farmers” initiative which aims to drive collaboration in selling Thai fruits in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Promotion, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce, to connect farmers and companies.

One of the farmers who have been directly impacted, Wilawan Rubkae, a long kong farm owner in Yala province, talked about the challenges she faces this year. “This year, our fruits, particularly long kong, do not sell well and the prices have dropped by almost 50%. Tops is now buying from our farm and helps maintain a reasonable price. The fruits that our cooperative delivers to Tops are high in quality. Personally, Tops is a good market. Tops’ team also offers advice to our cooperative’s members about improving the quality of our products so that we can sell better through various channels. They also offer trainings to us on a yearly basis.”

Suksak Phuwattana, an owner of a rambutan farm in Ban Na San, Surat Thani, talked about the crisis that farmers are facing. “This wave of COVID-19 is the biggest crisis I’ve ever faced in the past 18 years in terms of market and labor. Additionally, the supplies and demands don’t match, resulting in dropped sales and prices. Rambutan prices are now about 40% lower than last year. Tops has always been a good partner for us. Over the past four years, Tops has helped us a lot in improving productivity and quality, so that we can sell our produce at a higher price, as well as find an outlet for our produce.”

Sunet Inthaping, an owner of a longan farm in Lamphun, said, “I have been severely impacted because I am not able to export my produce to other countries. Now I have to rely on local markets only. When Tops purchases our produce, we have steady orders, and there are always new marketing plans to help us sell more. The buying prices are also fair and follow the market. When we have surpluses, we can talk to Tops to plan our delivery. Tops also helps us with containers so that we can reduce our expenses.”

Stephane added, “Over the past 25 years, Tops has always implemented measures to help local farmers. We visit their farms to offer advice for them to improve and expand their products. We purchase their produce directly from them with fair prices. We provide selling channels. These are how we elevate the quality of life for Thai farmers and help them get through this crisis. I would like to invite Thai people to support our local farmers and consume quality Thai fruits delivered straight from local farms, now available at Tops market, Tops SUPERSTORE, Tops daily, Central Food Hall, FamilyMart and Tops Online.

For more details, visit www.tops.co.th, Facebook TopsThailand, Central Food Hall or LINE   @TopsThailand