Don't fret if you find that prices of kailan and chyesim at local NTUC fairprice supermarkets are double what they used to be.
You could be looking at the organic version of the produce, which Fairprice launched today under its new house, Pasar Organic.
The vegetables come from Thailand and certified organic by the new NTUC FairPrice Organic Assurance Programme.
Fairprice staff have also undergone training on proper handling of the produce.
NTUC Fairprice chairman Ng Ser Miang with more.
"The organic demand is growing very rapidly. We've had a sale of 4 mil last year, we're expecting the sales to be about 8 mil this year so there's a huge demand, increasing demand from Sinagporeans who want healthier food who wants better things in life. We expect Pasar Organic to have sales of about 2 mil this year. We're going directly to the farms we put in our own certification, we are able to on the average sell our produce about fifty percent cheaper than the average of other organic products."
However, it might take a while for shoppers to be convinced.
938LIVE found that on average, while it was around fifteen percent cheaper than other imported organic produce, Pasar Organic costs two times more than the non-organic produce sold in the supermart.
"If I'm already going to buy organic food, I might as well spend the other ten or fifteen percent extra to buy those from US or UK and if I compare this to the normal non organic food its double the price what so I don't see why I should buy the organic food...."
"I'm already spending the money on normal organic food, and I've been buying the same brand for a few years now... so even if there's this new brand that's a bit cheaper I don't think I'll switch..."
"I think it's too expensive and I don't eat organic food anyway what...."
"Ok la I will consider since maybe its like ten to fifteen percent cheaper, I mean ok I won't mind trying."