Jakarta needs more vegetables, fruits

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta will remain an attractive market for vegetable and fruit suppliers as the city's population will need 546,000 tons of vegetables and 432,000 tons of fruit in the year 2000, Governor Sutiyoso said over the weekend.

"Jakarta will, therefore, need a massive supply of vegetables and fruit from areas outside the city.

"Jakarta cannot supply such a huge amount of vegetables and fruit for its own population," Sutiyoso said after opening Agro Expo 1999, held in Lapangan Banteng Field in Central Jakarta.

The event, organized by the city administration, will be held from Aug. 20 through Aug. 27.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Sutiyoso said he expected the exposition would be a forum for agribusiness-related companies and agencies to promote cooperation in distribution, consultation and marketing of agricultural products.

"Participants in the exposition should establish an agreement that will prevent price fluctuations of fruit and vegetables.

"Price fluctuations will only bring losses to both consumers and producers," Sutiyoso told Antara.

Fruit and vegetables are most expensive during the off-season.

Sutiyoso also took the occasion to persuade fruit consumers to appreciate and consume the country's domestic fruit such as the Indramayu mango of West Java, Malang apple of East Java and Pontianak orange of West Kalimantan. (asa)