Food Retail Policy

Policy Lessons on Fruits and Vegetables from the Philippine High-Value Crops and Organic Agriculture Programs

Authors: Elaine Q. Borazon, Anne Marie Thow, Jody Harris, Samali C. Perera, and Ilana R. Cliffer

Health Promotion International · October 2025 · Volume 40 · DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaf180

SHAPE Asia Project Lead, Elaine Q. Borazon, and collaborators recently published a study in Health Promotion International examining how agricultural policies in the Philippines can support healthier diets and strengthen food systems through fruits and vegetables..

The study analyzes two major Philippine programs - the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) - to identify policy lessons, implementation challenges, and opportunities for improving fruit and vegetable systems. The findings highlight the importance of multi-level governance, cross-sector collaboration, infrastructure investment, market development, and farmer support in promoting healthier food environments and nutrition outcomes.

Key contribution The publication also emphasizes that strengthening fruit and vegetable policies requires better policy coordination, stronger research–farmer linkages, improved extension services, and more inclusive market systems to support sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems.

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