President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibian farmers can learn valuable lessons from the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market.

The President, accompanied by a delegation of business representatives, toured the facility, which offers a full range of fruits and vegetables and supplies food service and grocery businesses across the United States.

The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, located at the city's port, is the world's largest fully refrigerated distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Its produce is sourced from various countries, including Ghana and South Africa, before being distributed throughout the U.S.

Market logistics management revealed that discussions are underway for grapes from Namibia's Aussenkehr to be imported through the Port of Philadelphia via Walvis Bay.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted the potential for cooperation between the ports of Philadelphia and Walvis Bay and encouraged knowledge exchange among farmers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also expressed interest in establishing bilateral trade with Namibia.

Dr. Jamie Green, a principal administrator in the department, told the Namibian delegation that trade with Namibia could open opportunities for Philadelphia to expand into the wider SADC region.

With youth unemployment remaining high in Namibia, Trade Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi emphasised that such cooperation could inspire young people to take a greater interest in the agriculture sector.

The Port of Philadelphia logistics management also announced that it is in the process of working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to facilitate Namibia's beef, and progress is well on track.

Namibia was cleared to export beef to the United States in 2020, following nearly two decades of negotiations.