Thanks to their hard work, Indonesian fruit farmers now reach 25 countries in partnership with Java Fresh and DBS Foundation | Bahasa

Indonesia, 15 Apr 2026 - As part of its commitment to supporting the growth of social enterprises and businesses for impact (BFI), DBS Foundation continues to strengthen business ecosystems capable of creating sustainable social impact. One of the recipients of the DBS Foundation Grant operating in the agricultural sector, Java Fresh, demonstrates how innovation and the right support can open up access to global markets while improving the welfare of Indonesian farmers.

Indonesia is one of the world’s largest fruit producers. Fruits were the main contributor to Indonesia’s horticultural exports in 2020. According to Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs data, the total horticultural exports amounted to USD645.48 million, with fruit exports accounting for USD389.9 million. The figure represents a significant increase of 30.31% compared to 2019, indicating the growing competitiveness of Indonesia’s fruits in the global market.

Nevertheless, this vast potential has yet to be fully translated into better welfare for farmers at the production stage. Many fruit farmers still face challenges such as limited market access, export quality standards, and long distribution chains. To bridge the gap, Java Fresh was founded in 2014 with a mission to build a more inclusive value chain, connecting smallholder farmers to global markets while fostering more equitable economic growth at the community level.

“Java Fresh was born out of the understanding that the strength of Indonesia’s agricultural sector lies not only in its production capacity but also in how the right systems can open up access, increase added value, and empower farmers as key players in the agricultural ecosystem. We want to ensure that when Indonesian fruits successfully enter international markets, the economic benefits are also enjoyed by the farmers and their communities,” said Co-Founder & CEO Java Fresh Margareta Astaman.

This understanding stemmed from the realities faced by many fruit farmers in Indonesia. The majority of Java Fresh’s partners are smallholder farmers who own less than 0.5 hectares of land. For years, they have faced similar challenges: limited productivity, restricted market access, and export standards that are difficult to meet without adequate support.

Recognising the gap, Java Fresh not only acts as a trade intermediary but also builds a support system across the entire supply chain. One of its key initiatives is establishing packing facilities near fruit-producing areas, enabling post-harvest handling at the village level.

These facilities not only improve the quality of the fruits before they enter the global market but also create formal job opportunities for local communities, particularly rural women who previously had limited economic options.

Behind the supply chains of fruits that reach global markets are stories of women who have rediscovered their independence and hope. Here are their stories.

Breaking the Cycle, Building the Future
The success of opening up global market access for farmers is evident not only in export figures but also in tangible changes at the community level. Behind the fruit supply chains that are increasingly connected to international markets are short stories of new opportunities that were once inconceivable for rural communities.

One of the stories come from Puspahiang, Tasikmalaya, West Java. Ibu Edah had a life-changing experience at a relatively advanced age. In her youth, the woman, now 40, struggled to find work because job opportunities were more plentiful in big cities while the long distance to Bandung made her hesitant to leave home to pursue a career.

Limited options led her to marry at a young age and lead a life not unlike that of many other rural women, haunted by economic pressures and a lack of opportunities for independence.

Change came when Java Fresh built a packing house near the fruit-producing hub in the area. The facility created job opportunities for rural women, including Ibu Edah, who went on to become one of the first seven women to join the fruit-cleaning team and eventually secure a permanent employment.

At the facility, Ibu Edah received training that met international standards, a more stable income, and new skills that boosted her confidence as a professional worker.

“Back then, I didn’t have many options. Now, if we’re willing to keep learning and work hard, opportunities will gradually come our way,” said Ibu Edah.

A steady job with a decent wage gradually transformed her family’s life. She was able to send her child to graduate school, something that once seemed nearly impossible in her village, a place where early marriage is still common. Today, the story of Ibu Edah is something of an anomaly that gives hope that a single decent job can break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Disability Is No Barrier to Making a Difference
If the story of Ibu Edah shows how job opportunities can change the course of a person's life, a similar experience is shared by Ibu Emin (56), another worker at Java Fresh.

In her fifties, Ibu Emin continues to work with quiet dedication. She was born with a hand disability, yet her condition did not stop her from pushing forward and living independently.

Like many women in rural villages, she married young and built a modest life while raising two children. The turning point came in 2017, when she joined Java Fresh.

“For me, this isn't just about earning an income. It's proof that I can work well and contribute to my family's livelihood,” she said.

Her earnings allowed her to purchase a plot of land, a significant achievement born of years of hard work. Now, she is saving up to renovate her home, a small but meaningful step demonstrating the independence she has steadily built for herself.

For Ibu Emin, work gives her independence. Work is about continuing to move forward, even when the road is not always easy.

Still Thriving in Her Golden Years
A similar transformative story was told by Ibu Nani Suryani. She began working at Java Fresh at the age of 60, an age when many people are winding down their careers. Yet, for Ibu  Nani, that was precisely when she was starting over. Now, approaching 70, she remains an active worker at Java Fresh's packing house. Prior to joining the company, she worked as a daily farm laborer with unpredictable and unstable income.

“Since working at Java Fresh, I have my own income. Little by little I've been able to save, enough to buy gold and have the bed fixed,” she said.

Beneath the simplicity of her words lies a powerful message: opportunity knows no age. When inclusive workplaces open their doors, productivity and self-confidence can flourish anew, even at a stage of life that is so often seen as a time to stop.

Supported by DBS Foundation, Java Fresh Delivers Real Solutions for Vulnerable Communities
The stories of Ibu Edah, Ibu Emin, and Ibu Nani represent the kind of change Java Fresh is working to build: an agricultural system oriented not only toward production but toward creating more equitable economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities alike.

These efforts gained new momentum when Java Fresh received grant funding from DBS Foundation Grant Programme 2024. The funding has been directed toward strengthening research and development (R&D), particularly in extending the shelf life of produce and improving post-harvest handling in the face of climate change challenges and logistics distribution hurdles. Longer shelf life means reduced losses from shipping delays, less post-harvest waste, and greater operational efficiency.

“As a purpose-driven bank, Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to growing alongside communities through our sustainability pillar, Impact Beyond Banking. Businesses for impact (BFI) like Java Fresh are crucial partners in realising that commitment. We believe that when farmers are given access to markets, mentorship, and innovation, they not only improve their own well-being, they become an essential part of a more resilient and sustainable supply chain. Through this funding, we hope to accelerate the creation of a more inclusive and competitive agricultural ecosystem while empowering communities to thrive,” said Head of Group Marketing & Communications PT Bank DBS Indonesia Mona Monika.

The DBS Foundation Grant Programme has been running since 2014, supporting hundreds of social enterprises and businesses for impact (BFIs) across Asia with solutions addressing pressing social challenges, from clean water access and food security, to education, financial inclusion, and inclusive employment. From 2014 to 2025, DBS Foundation disbursed more than SGD4 million in grants to 28 recipients in Indonesia.

Today, Java Fresh reaches markets in 25 countries, has expanded operations into three new regions, and has empowered an additional 400 farmers and 90 rural women workers. Among its recent breakthroughs: a successful trial shipment of mangosteen to China using Controlled Atmosphere technology over 29 days, a method that preserves fruit quality during transit while minimising losses and improving distribution efficiency.

The names Ibu Edah, Ibu Emin, and Ibu Nani may never appear on any export label, but it is their hands that ensure Indonesian fruits reach the world.

When access, guidance, and opportunity arrive in a village, change no longer feels distant. It grows slowly, steadily—in a renovated home, a child who can continue his/her education, and a hope that, at last, becomes real.

 

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About Java Fresh
Java Fresh is a brand owned by PT Nusantara Segar Global, a social agriculture-based company founded in 2014 with a mission to provide smallholder farmers in Indonesia with access to global markets. Starting with just 25 farmers and 3 female workers in Tasikmalaya, Java Fresh has now grown into a network of more than 3,000 farmers and hundreds of female workers across six packing houses located in rural areas.

The company exports a variety of fresh tropical fruits—particularly mangosteen—to more than 20 countries, including markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. With a research- and technology-driven approach, Java Fresh focuses on improving harvest quality through pre-harvest assistance, post-harvest innovation, and a transparent grading-based payment system to enhance farmer welfare.

As part of its social impact commitment, Java Fresh actively creates job opportunities for women in rural areas and promotes sustainable farming practices. The company has also obtained international certifications such as GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP, and continues to develop research centers to extend shelf life and improve product competitiveness in global markets.

For more information, please visit: www.javafresh.com


About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.

In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.

Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.

For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation.

 

About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.

Established in 1989 as part of the Singapore-based DBS Group, PT Bank DBS Indonesia (Bank DBS Indonesia) is one of the banks with the longest history in Asia. Currently operating 1 Operational Head Office, 13 Branch Offices, 14 Sub-Branch Offices, 32 ATMs spread across major cities and 2.861 active employees in 15 major cities in Indonesia, Bank DBS Indonesia provides comprehensive banking services that focus on the customer experience to 'Live more, Bank less'. We also see a purpose beyond banking and are committed to supporting our customers, employees, and the community towards a sustainable future.

PT Bank DBS Indonesia is licensed and supervised by The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK), and an insured member of Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).

DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.