One of the major exporters of agricultural produce in Vanua Levu, Labasa Farm Fresh has signed under the Fijian Made Emblem yesterday.

Labasa Farm Fresh specialising in sourcing local produce such as jackfruit, duruka, taro leaves and bongo chillies from several farming clusters for the Australian market.

Madhuwan Reddy, the co-director of the farm said being under the Fijian Made emblem would help him represent Fiji with his exported products.

“The company started in 2011 when my brother Arvin Reddy and I started exporting local vegetables like jackfruit, chillies and beans to my other brother Vinay Reddy, who owns the South Pacific Asian Foods in Australia,” Mr Reddy said.

“When I started I had only around five employees but now I have around 20 employees with around 15 varieties of vegetables that I export.”

Speaking in regards to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Yasa and Tropical Cyclone Ana, Mr Reddy said the two cyclones had a devastating effect on this business.

“All crops were destroyed and supply had gone really low, however, we are still optimistic that if we give it a month or two, we can bounce back our operations like before.”

Mr Reddy has urged farmers to diversify and plant more vegetables, as well as those who lost their jobs at the onset of COVID-19 to try farming for a livelihood.

Meanwhile Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya said the Fijian Made emblem promoted nationalism and unity amongst locals.

“It creates pride for Fijian Grown and Fijian Made,” he said.

“We want that Fijian label to be a worldwide known label and the quality of our goods and our produce to be recognised.”

The Fijian Made and Buy Fijian campaign was initiated by the Fijian Government under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport to promote Fijian made products and produce both domestically and abroad.

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