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To promote sustainable food practices, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), launched the Farm to Fork (F2F) initiative.
The theme of the inaugural workshop was “Connecting Farmers and Chefs” and it aimed to strengthen the connection between local farmers and hotels, restaurants and other F&B outlets. Held at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort in Sigatoka in March this year, the workshop featured speakers including local farmers, chefs, hotel procurement managers and policymakers who shared their expertise and insights on various aspects of the food system. Nearly 70 participants attended the meeting, including government stakeholders, farmer cooperatives and agricultural and aquaculture clusters, middlemen and key decision makers in the hospitality industry, such as chefs, F&B managers and hotel procurement officers.
To guide the F2F initiative, Fiji has formed a steering committee which includes representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, FAO, Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association, Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs and Communications, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Chef Lance Seeto and Tourism Fiji.
The one-and-a-half-day workshop aims to strengthen the links between the tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors. The goal of the workshop is to enhance the gastronomic experience of tourists by promoting local cuisine. Through the F2F program, farmers will directly connect with chefs and buyers to ensure fresh ingredients, stable supply and sustainability of the food supply chain.
The F2F program is in line with the global trend towards sustainable tourism and culinary experiences. It showcases the rich diversity of local produce while reducing food import bills. A second F2F workshop is planned for Savusavu in August.
photo: F2F seminar group photo
Photo credits: Fiji Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
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