Main Food Markets | Satellite Markets​

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Suva Market


Market Stall Vendor at Suva City Market
Suva City Market

The cosmopolitan nature of Suva and her people is perhaps nowhere better exemplified than in the marketplace. Men and women from nearly all segments of Fiji’s multiracial population gather here to offer their various wares to the public. Like marketplaces everywhere in the world, the spread-through atmosphere is one of the most lively and energetic with enthusiasm and cheerfulness, along with bargaining and negotiating, both good-natured and otherwise, the order of the day.

Shoppers with time and patience can usually find what they are looking for at just the price they feel is reasonable, for competition among merchants is always lively.  Products available in the markets in Suva vary according to the clientele to which they cater. The market and the mini-markets offer a wide selection of fresh, sun-ripened fruits as well as taro (dalo) and cassava (tavioka), and other vegetables with a variety of seafood more familiar to visitors in Western countries.

The markets are not only Suva’s major fresh food supplier, it is also a means of livelihood for thousands of people and a celebration – a six-day fair for those that use the market daily.

Mini Market

With the demand from our community within Suva City, the Council provided for mini-markets to cater to the daily needs of the community and its visitors.  These mini-markets are within walking distance of the residents of Suva.

There are five Mini markets within Suva City:

  • Nabua Mini market
  • Bailey Bridge Mini market
  • Flagstaff Mini market
  • Raiwaqa Market
  • Kaukimoce Mini market

Lautoka City Municipal Market


Overhead view of Lautoka Main Market, bright-coloured fruits ad vegetables covering the market stalls.
Lautoka Main Market (Courtesy of Lautoka Council)

The Lautoka City Municipal Market caters to vendors, farmers, and wholesalers from all regions of Viti levu. The market has an exotic blend of fresh local and imported fruits, vegetables, spices and root crops, handicrafts, and sweet sellers, selling fresh seafood and kai. The market also houses a Fishermen’s market where a wide variety of fish can be found.

The Market is a “One Stop Shop” near the Supermarket, Bus Station, Taxi Stand, and Carries stand, Wheel Borrow Boys are there to assist customers and Parking space at the Mall. Can move freely as the Police Post is within the Market Space and the Market has CCTV.

Main Market Opening Times | Monday – Friday 7 am – 5:30 pm | Saturday 6:00 am -4:00 pm

Mini Market (Tavakubu)


Opening Celebration of the Mini Market Tavakubu
Opening Celebration of the Mini Market Tavakubu

Lautoka City Council also owns and operates a mini-market outside the CBD, located at the junction of Tavakubu Road and Sukanaivalu Road. This market is known as the Tavakubu Satellite Market and was constructed in 2017.

Tavakubu Satellite Market has 34 stalls and has opening hours as followsMon-Sun: 07:00 – 17:00 Hours.


Avacado
Avacado
Bananas
Bananas
Bilimbi Fruit
Bilimbi Fruit
Bok Choy
Bok Choy
Breadfruit
Breadfruit
Broccoli
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Cassava 1
Cassava
Capsicum
Capsicum
Carrot
Carrots
Chillis
Chilli's
Cocoa
Cocoa pod
Cowpeas
Cowpeas
Cucumber
Cucumber
Dalo
Dalo
Daruka in Fiji
Daruka
French Beans
French Beans
Gooseberries
Gooseberries
Granadilla
Granadilla
Guava
Guava
Jack Fruit
Jack Fruit
Kavika.
Kavika
Kumala
Kumala
Lettuce
Lettuce
Long Beans
Long Beans
mango mangifera indica against white background transformed
Mango
Melons
Melons
Mung Beans
Mung Beans
Okra
Okra
Passionfruit Fiji
Passion Fruit
Peanuts
Peanuts
Pigeon Pea
Pigeon Pea
Pineapple
Pineapple
Plantain
Plantain
Rice
Rice
Soursop
Soursop
Yams
Sweet Potato
Taro
Taro
Turmeric
Turmeric
Vanilla.
Vanilla pods
Wild Coffee
Wild Coffee
yams.
Yam Roots
zucchini 1
Zucchini

Staple root crops of Fiji


Cassava 1
Cassava
Taro
Taro
Yams
Sweet Potato
yams.
Yam Roots

Fijians, along with most other Pacific Islanders, have never been cultivators of cereals like potatoes, rice, sago, or any of the other staple foods. The bread and butter of the fertile islands of Fiji have been and continue to be a small selection of tropical foods, including fruits such as breadfruits and cooking bananas, as well as root crops, of which the most important are yams and taro. These have recently been supplemented by some introduced root crops, notably sweet potatoes and tapioca, or manioc.

Tavioka

Tavioka (tapioca, manioc, and CASSAVA) is a native of Central and South America and was introduced to Fiji in the mid-nineteenth century by Catholic priests. At first, it was considered an inferior root crop, suitable only for pig fodder, but eventually, Fijians developed a taste for it, not to mention a liking for its ease of planting and rapid maturity, so that now it is probably Fiji’s favorite food, though experts warn that it is of very low nutritional value. In some parts of Fiji, especially the eastern islands of Lau, the leaves are also eaten after being suitably treated to remove the poison in them.

Dalo, Colocasia esculenta

Dalo (better known in English by its Polynesian name, TARO) has a tasty but unremarkable-looking tuber that is crowned by a bunch of large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves that give a luscious green hue to any dalo plantation. Dalo is very versatile but grows best in swampy conditions or where there is very high rainfall. The young leaves are also eaten as green vegetables, often with coconut cream, and are highly nutritious. Dalo is often pounded and made into a kind of sweet pudding with caramelized coconut cream. Fijians and other Pacific islanders who have migrated to New Zealand, Australia, and North America still yearn for their dalo, so much so that it has now become an important export crop.

Kumala (Ipomea batatas)

The Kumala (SWEET POTATO) holds a special place in the history of the Pacific, being one of the few cultivated plants that were introduced into the Pacific from South America before the advent of Europeans. The tubers are like large potatoes with, as the name indicates, a sweetish taste, and the leaves of the scrambling vines are also eaten in some parts of Fiji as green vegetables, boiled in coconut milk.

Kawai (Dioscorea esculenta)

The Kawai (SWEET YAM) is a species of yam with smallish tubers containing white flesh with a sweetish taste, not unlike those floury potatoes. Like all yams, it is planted in mounds, and the growth of the tuber is matched by the growth of a spiny vine with broad, deep-green, spade-shaped leaves. It is planted around September and matures in the cool season (around June or July), thus providing a continuous supply of root crops when the main yam crop is exhausted. Kawai is particularly common in the drier parts of Fiji, especially the Macuata area of northern Vanua Levu.

Uvi Dioscorea alata

Uvi (YAMS)  In Fiji, the months of the year are largely determined by the planting, growth, harvesting, and ritual presentation of yams; indeed, the Fijian word for the year, yabaki, originally meant ‘yam-harvest’. They are planted in mounds in the cool season (June–July) and mature in about nine months. For best results, the vines are trained on real trellises. It is considered a great compliment to a man to say he is a good yam cultivator. Yams last well as long as they are protected from rodents and other pests and are often kept in specially built storehouses called valevale or lololo. There are many varieties in all shapes and sizes, but the typical yam is long and knobbly, with white flesh that can be relatively hard. Yam competitions used to be run annually in many parts of Fiji, and tubers can measure over six feet (2 meters) and weigh up to 45 kilograms. The visible part of the plant is a spiny vine that spirals to the right as it climbs, with small leaves shaped like rather pointed hearts.

All Year Crops


FRUIT AND VEGETABLESTRADITIONAL & TROPICALFIJI GROWN & PRODUCEDFIJIAN SPICES
Citrus (Limes)BeleCheese (hand made)Cardamon
CornCassavaHerbs (basil, coriander,
mint, parsley etc.)
Chilli
EggplantCoconutHoneyCinnamon
Noni fruit (Kura)DaloLettuce and
hydroponic vegetables
Curry leaves
Papaya (Pawpaw)Dawa (Longan)MushroomsGinger
PumpkinKavaNama (Seagrapes)Nutmegs

Seasonal Produce Availablity Calendar


JANUARYFEBRUARY MARCHAPRILMAYJUNE
AvocadoAvocadoBananaBananaBilimbi FruitBilimbi Fruit
BananaBananaBilimbi FruitBilimbi FruitBreadfruitBreadfruit
Bilimbi FruitBilimbi FruitBreadfruitBok ChoyBok ChoyBok Choy
BreadfruitBreadfruitChilliBreadfruitCabbageCabbage
CapsicumCapsicumGranadillaChilliCocoaCocoa
CarrotChilliGuavaCocoaCowpeasCowpeas
ChilliDarukaLong BeansCowpeasCucumberCucumber
DaloGranadillaOkraGranadillaFrench BeansFrench Beans
DarukaGuavaPineappleGuavaGranadillaGranadilla
GranadillaLong BeansPlantainLong BeansLettuceLettuce
GuavaMelonsRiceMung BeansMung BeansMelons
Long BeansOkraWild CoffeePlantainPeanutsMung Beans
MelonsPineappleYamsRicePigeon PeaPeanuts
OkraPlantainWild CoffeePineapplePigeon Pea
PeanutsRiceYamsRicePineapple
PineappleSoursopWild CoffeeRice
PlantainWild CoffeeYamsWild Coffee
SoursopYamsYams
JULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBER
Bilimbi FruitBok ChoyBananaBananaAvocadoAvocado
Bok ChoyBroccoliBok ChoyBok ChoyBananaBanana
BroccoliCabbageBroccoliCabbageBok ChoyBread Fruit
CabbageCocoaCabbageGooseberriesGooseberriesGooseberries
CocoaGooseberriesGooseberriesCapsicumCapsicumCapsicum
GooseberriesCapsicumCapsicumCarrotCarrotCarrot
CapsicumCarrotCarrotCowpeasCowpeasChilli
CarrotCauliflowerCowpeasCucumberDarukaCowpeas
CauliflowerCowpeasCucumberDurukaFrench BeansDaruka
CowpeasCucumberDurukaFrench BeansJack FruitFrench Beans
GranadillaFrench BeansFrench BeansJack FruitLettuceLettuce
CucumberKumalaJack FruitKumalaMangoLong Beans
French BeansLettuceKumalaLettuceMelonMango
LettuceMelonsLettuceMangoMung BeansMelon
MelonsMung BeanMelonsMelonsPeanutsMung beans
Mung BeanPeanutsMung BeanMung BeanPineappleOkra
PassionfruitPigeon PeaPeanutsPeanutsPlantainPineapple
PeanutsTomatoPigeon PeaPigeon PeaTomatoPlantain
Pigeon PeaTurmericPineapplePineappleSoursop
PineappleWild CoffeeWild CoffeePlantainTomato
TomatoYamZucchiniWild Coffee
TurmericZucchini
Vanilla
Wild Coffee
Yam
Zucchini

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