The Malta Food Agency: Elevating Malta’s Food Markets for the Horeca Industry
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January 20, 2025The Malta Food Agency plays a vital role in supporting Malta’s food markets, overseeing the Ta' Qali Fruit & Vegetable Market (Pitkalija), the National Fish Market (Pixkerija), and the Farmers Market.
These markets are the backbone of Malta’s agricultural and fisheries sectors, connecting local producers directly with consumers and businesses. For the HORECA industry, this means a steady source of fresh, high-quality local produce essential for meeting customer demand for authentic Maltese flavours.
Pitkalija:Transforming the Fruit and Vegetable Hub
Pitkalija is Malta’s central hub for fruit and vegetable distribution, serving a broad range of buyers, including supermarkets, restaurants, and caterers. The Malta Food Agency has modernized Pitkalija to enhance transparency, traceability, and operational efficiency, benefiting both farmers and buyers in the HORECA industry.
Digital tools like ilbidwi.gov.mt for farmers and ixxerrej.gov.mt for buyers allow real-time access to data on product availability, pricing, and sales. This transparency ensures that farmers receive fair prices and buyers can make well-informed purchasing decisions, aligning with HORECA’s commitment to local sourcing and quality.
The agency has also invested in infrastructure upgrades to make Pitkalija more efficient and attractive, supporting the industry’s reliance on high-quality, fresh ingredients sourced locally. By streamlining the market’s operations, the Malta Food Agency is transforming Pitkalija into a reliable resource for fresh produce that meets the quality and traceability standards demanded by the HORECA sector.
Pixkerija: Supporting Malta’s Fishing Industry
Pixkerija, Malta’s main fish market, is essential to the local seafood supply chain, providing a centralized venue for the sale of fresh fish. The Malta Food Agency has introduced improvements, including a fish-cutting area that simplifies processing for fishermen and buyers, making it easier for restaurants and caterers to source fish in a format ready for preparation.
Digital advancements are also underway, with a new IT solution being developed to streamline sales alongside an app to help market fresh local fish. This modernization allows HORECA businesses to easily source fresh, traceable seafood, meeting customer expectations for quality and sustainability.
Additionally, the agency plans to renovate the second floor of Pixkerija to support value-added food processing, which will enhance the marketability of Maltese fish products. By enhancing Pixkerija’s infrastructure and digital capabilities, the Malta Food Agency ensures the fishing industry’s long-term sustainability, supporting HORECA’s increasing demand for high-quality, locally sourced seafood.
Farmers Market: Direct Access to Local Produce
Farmers Markets are crucial for providing direct access to fresh produce, fostering a close connection between producers and consumers. The Malta Food Agency has expanded these markets, offering new opportunities for farmers to sell their products without intermediaries. A new Farmers Market was opened in Kottonera, complementing the Ta’ Qali market and providing HORECA buyers with a dependable source of fresh local ingredients.
Plans for a new Farmers Market in Ta’ Qali include modern facilities to enhance the experience for both sellers and buyers. This initiative aligns with the HORECA sector’s interest in locally sourced food, providing a steady supply of fresh, high-quality produce for farm-to-table dining experiences. The Farmers Markets represent an invaluable resource for sourcing authentic ingredients, helping the HORECA industry create menus that highlight Malta’s agricultural heritage.
Pixkerija, Malta’s main fish market, is essential to the local seafood supply chain, providing a centralized venue for the sale of fresh fish. The Malta Food Agency has introduced improvements, including a fish-cutting area that simplifies processing for fishermen and buyers, making it easier for restaurants and caterers to source fish in a format ready for preparation.
Digital advancements are also underway, with a new IT solution being developed to streamline sales alongside an app to help market fresh local fish. This modernization allows HORECA businesses to easily source fresh, traceable seafood, meeting customer expectations for quality and sustainability.
Additionally, the agency plans to renovate the second floor of Pixkerija to support value-added food processing, which will enhance the marketability of Maltese fish products. By enhancing Pixkerija’s infrastructure and digital capabilities, the Malta Food Agency ensures the fishing industry’s long-term sustainability, supporting HORECA’s increasing demand for high-quality, locally sourced seafood.
Farmers Market: Direct Access to Local Produce
Farmers Markets are crucial for providing direct access to fresh produce, fostering a close connection between producers and consumers. The Malta Food Agency has expanded these markets, offering new opportunities for farmers to sell their products without intermediaries. A new Farmers Market was opened in Kottonera, complementing the Ta’ Qali market and providing HORECA buyers with a dependable source of fresh local ingredients.
Plans for a new Farmers Market in Ta’ Qali include modern facilities to enhance the experience for both sellers and buyers. This initiative aligns with the HORECA sector’s interest in locally sourced food, providing a steady supply of fresh, high-quality produce for farm-to-table dining experiences. The Farmers Markets represent an invaluable resource for sourcing authentic ingredients, helping the HORECA industry create menus that highlight Malta’s agricultural heritage.
Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Food Waste Reduction
Social responsibility and sustainability are fundamental to the Malta Food Agency’s mission. One of its most impactful projects is a digital platform aimed at addressing food waste from Pitkalija and Pixkerija, where unsold but edible produce is redirected to food banks. Plans are underway to extend this technology to the broader food industry, allowing businesses to share surplus inventory with voluntary organizations while receiving tax incentives.
Food that is unsuitable for consumption is composted and returned to farmers, supporting a circular economy and reducing landfill waste.
Conclusion
Through its work with Pitkalija, Pixkerija, and Farmers Markets, the Malta Food Agency has significantly improved Malta’s food systems, benefitting local producers, the HORECA industry, and the broader community. Digitalization, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainability initiatives have made these markets more efficient, transparent, and competitive, aligning with the HORECA sector’s needs for traceable, high-quality local ingredients.
For HORECA businesses, the agency’s efforts translate into a reliable supply of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that support the sector’s dedication to authenticity and quality. By strengthening the connections between farmers, fishermen, and consumers, the Malta Food Agency ensures that Malta’s food products continue to be at the heart of the island’s economy and culinary culture.
As the agency continues to innovate and invest, it remains a valuable partner for HORECA businesses committed to showcasing the best of Maltese produce.
Social responsibility and sustainability are fundamental to the Malta Food Agency’s mission. One of its most impactful projects is a digital platform aimed at addressing food waste from Pitkalija and Pixkerija, where unsold but edible produce is redirected to food banks. Plans are underway to extend this technology to the broader food industry, allowing businesses to share surplus inventory with voluntary organizations while receiving tax incentives.
Food that is unsuitable for consumption is composted and returned to farmers, supporting a circular economy and reducing landfill waste.
Conclusion
Through its work with Pitkalija, Pixkerija, and Farmers Markets, the Malta Food Agency has significantly improved Malta’s food systems, benefitting local producers, the HORECA industry, and the broader community. Digitalization, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainability initiatives have made these markets more efficient, transparent, and competitive, aligning with the HORECA sector’s needs for traceable, high-quality local ingredients.
For HORECA businesses, the agency’s efforts translate into a reliable supply of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that support the sector’s dedication to authenticity and quality. By strengthening the connections between farmers, fishermen, and consumers, the Malta Food Agency ensures that Malta’s food products continue to be at the heart of the island’s economy and culinary culture.
As the agency continues to innovate and invest, it remains a valuable partner for HORECA businesses committed to showcasing the best of Maltese produce.
