Beyond our skyscrapers and shopping malls, the food self-sufficiency movement has taken root in our backyard!
And all for good reason too, especially when the ongoing pandemic brought food security to light, placing even greater pressure on meeting Singapore’s “30 by 30” goal ― to produce 30 percent of the nation’s nutritional needs locally by 2030.
With this, local farmers have been raising the roof by not only producing pesticide-free fresh foods, but also incorporating sustainable and zero-waste energy practices where possible. From frog legs to mushrooms, put your money where your home is and support the “30 by 30” goal with these 5 sustainable local fresh foods for your shopping basket!
1. Frog
Let’s jump into this list on the right foot — or leg! High in omega-3 fatty acids but low in calories, Jurong Frog Farm’s American Bullfrog meat is a lean alternative source of protein than red meat. First established along Old Jurong Road in 1981, Jurong Frog Farm was a household name with an illustrious heritage spanning nearly four decades; it’s since evolved into a futuristic-looking farm that continues to curate such fresh novel meats.
Their livestock is reared free from hormones, antibiotics or steroids and packed in an ISO 22000-accredited abattoir. It even reaches you before you can call it a day—in less than 18 hours on supermarket shelves!
2. Chicken
Ever wondered why Kee Song Group’s chickens are particularly tender? In 2005, Kee Song revolutionised the industry with the Japanese lactobacillus farming technology in their rearing method. Such technology introduces healthy bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus and lactobacillus fermentum, as well as carotenoids into their chicken feed. This results in fresh chicken, particularly from their Sakura range, with a lower fat content than similar options on the market!
And with their halal-certified poultry range, Kee Song is truly a brand that every household can rely on—a guardian of healthy living!
3. Fish
With the ocean surrounding us, of course we’ll “sea” food everywhere! Having learnt the techniques honed by traditional fish farmers for decades, The Fish Farmer has grown to build over 100 caged long nets along sheltered walkways. Fish require space to swim and exercise with the tides and current, absorbing the natural nutrients and sea environment with time to grow fully to fillet and plate size. This process takes roughly one and two years respectively, and is done without the use of growth enhancements and the strictest adherence to food safety regulations set out by the Singapore government.
The result? Firm and natural-tasting flesh with no muddy taste that boasts the same flavour as wild-caught fish! From red snapper to seabass, The Fish Farmer is the only local farm with the widest variety of fish. For a start, try their Red Snapper ($1.89 per 100 grams) — an excellent source of vitamins B6 and 12, D & E, and minerals like magnesium and flesh under its red skin and meat with a pinkish tinge!
4. Eggs
We have two leading producers of local eggs — Chew’s Agriculture and N&N. As the pioneer of enriched eggs in Singapore, the former is one of the largest modern layer farms in Singapore. Its newly developed eco-conscious and climate-controlled poultry houses can even improve air quality and reduce risk of disease contamination.
Chew’s Agriculture collects each tray of Omega 6 Fresh Eggs ($3.25) from hens that are cared for using the highest scientific standards. If you don’t take our word for it, take theirs — especially when they’re the only US Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) certified farm in Singapore!
Similarly, N&N make their Halal-certified fresh eggs and pasteurised egg products through humane and eco-friendly practices. The luscious, creamy golden yolk of its oh-so-popular Triangel Freshness Eggs ($2.85 for 1) and more, are results of carotenoids found in the corn-rich diet food fed to their hens. From the way their hens eat and live to food processing, stringent ISO-22000 standards are in place to ensure optimal quality and food safety from their farm to your table!
5. Mushrooms
Sowing the seeds (well, spores) for the future of pesticide-free fresh producers is Kin Yan Farm. Growing pesticide-free mushrooms is still no straightforward task to upkeep — and Kin Yan Farm’s farmers can attest to that. Their mushrooms can take up till 28 days to grow and harvest depending on variety, and this can be challenging to maintain in land-scarce Singapore. But they overcame all the odds to become Singapore’s largest commercial mushroom and wheatgrass farm continually producing the mushrooms you love, as varieties like black fungus are crunchier in texture compared to their imported counterparts.
Experience the fresh crunch with high-quality Fresh Black Fungus ($2.95 for 1) and these local foods at your nearest FairPrice store today!
