More clean food supply points open for Ho Chi Minh City shoppers

The two sides have jointly launched the ‘Accompanying Clean Farm Produce for the 2020-30 Period’ program, aiming to build a transparent farm-to-table supply chain and expand a trustworthy shopping point system for consumers.

Under the program, clean agricultural products supplied by cooperatives and farming households meeting VietGAP, organic and OCOP standards started to be introduced directly at Co.opmart Foodcosa Quang Trung, located in Thong Tay Hoi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City on December 20.

These products are offered at the most competitive prices.

Concerns over unsafe food

Speaking at the program’s launch ceremony, Nguyen Thanh Trung, chairman of the union, noted that over many years, the Party and the state have issued numerous resolutions and action programs aimed at protecting public health and promoting safe and clean agriculture.

The entire political system, from state management agencies to socio-political organizations and individuals, has been involved in these efforts.

However, he acknowledged that bringing clean agricultural products to consumers has yet to meet expectations.

Vietnam’s safe agricultural produce still faces numerous barriers, from production and transportation to distribution.

Consumers continue to struggle with a lack of trust and peace of mind when choosing food for their daily meals, he said.

“If farmers produce clean products but fail to secure stable sales, their efforts may not be suútainable," Trung said.

“Conversely, consumers who want clean food are often lost in a maze, unable to distinguish genuinely safe products from those that only claim to be so."

He warned that unsafe food does not only have immediate impacts but can also lead to long-term consequences for public health.

As such, Trung called for a stronger sense of shared responsibility, stressing that efforts should become more decisive and coordinated in promoting both the production and consumption of clean agricultural products.

“Sustainable health depends on not only medical treatment, but also daily meals sourced from safe, transparent and trustworthy food,” he said.

‘Accompanying Clean Farm Produce’ program boosts safe goods production

The ‘Accompanying Clean Farm Produce for the 2020-30 Period’ program is seen as a concrete effort to address long-standing bottlenecks in the production and consumption of safe agricultural goods in Ho Chi Minh City.

The initiative focuses on developing clean agricultural production and business models, while connecting supply points across Ho Chi Minh City.

The goal is to gradually form a safe agricultural supply chain tailored to the needs of urban consumers.

The Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Union plays a leading role in developing and implementing the program, serving as a focal point for introducing safe agricultural sources from its members and cooperatives.

Meanwhile, Saigon Co.op, with more than 800 retail outlets nationwide and its Co.op Online platform, is responsible for distribution, creating favorable conditions for clean agricultural products to reach consumers.

Duong Minh Quang, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, said that in the initial phase, safe agricultural supply points will be established within the Co.opmart supermarket system across Ho Chi Minh City.

The first such point is at Co.opmart Foodcosa Quang Trung.

It plans to expand the model to other locations within the system.

“Products placed on supermarket shelves will not rely solely on recommendations from the Farmers’ Union," Quang stressed.

“They must also undergo Saigon Co.op’s strict quality control procedures.

“We apply multi-layered monitoring mechanisms to ensure maximum safety for consumers and strengthen trust in domestically produced clean agricultural goods."

The initiative is not merely a sales activity, but also a way to create stable market outlets for farmers and gradually standardize the safe agricultural market.

With a centralized distribution channel, investments in packaging, labeling, market information and trade connections become more efficient, helping reduce costs and enhance the competitiveness of local agricultural products, according to the Saigon Co.op representative.

Alongside the establishment of supply points, the program also includes support activities such as training farmers in food safety knowledge and assisting farmers and cooperatives in accessing quality standards like VietGAP, organic certification, and OCOP.

The partnership between the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Union and Saigon Co.op is expected to support farmers’ economic development, contribute to building a civilized urban environment, ensure social welfare, and effectively implement the city’s key programs in the coming years.

Building on 'Green Tick of Responsibility’

Prior to the launch of this program, Saigon Co.op had already made its mark as a pioneer in the ‘Green Tick of Responsibility’ initiative, launched by Ho Chi Minh City in March 2024.

At a review marking one year of implementation, Vo Hoang Anh, a representative of Saigon Co.op, said that while the early stages faced difficulties due to supplier hesitation, the system has since partnered with around 80 suppliers and offered some 1,200 certified products, mainly fresh goods, to more than 800 retail outlets.

Beyond Co.opmart, Co.opXtra and Co.opFood supermarkets, green-tick (certified) products are also available on Co.op Online and through mobile sales trips serving export processing zones, industrial parks, and remote areas.

Thanks to assured quality and attractive promotions, sales of this product group rose by 30-40 percent between January and October this year, encouraging producers to expand cultivation areas and standardize farming practices.

For the upcoming 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, Saigon Co.op plans to introduce ‘Green Tick of Responsibility’ gift baskets featuring certified products, priced at an estimated VND349,000 (US$13.3) each, conveying a message of health and responsibility to consumers.