Schools, hospitals, hotels and jails are being targeted to absorb the Thai fruit market's current large supply, which is expected to last through August.
Commerce Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said the ministry will ask the Public Health Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Department of Corrections to coordinate with the above-listed facilities to purchase fruit.
Various kinds of fruit, including rambutan, mangosteen, durian, lychee, longan and coconut, are entering the market now.
The ministry forecasts that this year's |production of many fruits will increase from last year, including rambutan (from 271,000 to 285,000 tonnes) and lychee (53,200 to 82,800 tonnes.
Production of longan, durian, pineapple and coconut remain unchanged from last year. Yanyong said the ministry has designed three strategies to help growers.
This involved creating links between farmers and consumers in every area to absorb the supply; creating a network of orchards and local markets, central markets and border-trade points, including retailers, wholesalers, government agencies and checkpoints; and boosting marketing efforts to encourage more consumption of fruits, focusing on tourist destinations and communities.
Fruit plantation areas targeted for |assistance include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Payao, Lampun, Nan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Trat, Prachin Buri, Chanthaburi, Surat |Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Yala.
The ministry will also join with private firms in the provinces of Saraburi, Chai Nat, Samut Sakhon and Lampun to select the provinces' best goods.