The Department of Agriculture is set to promote fresh and dried fruits such as pineapples, mangoes, papaya and durian from Mindanao at the SIAL China in Shanghai on May 17 to 19, 2017.

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said specific display counters at the 84-square meter Philippine pavilion at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre have been allocated for fresh fruits alone, in keeping with DA’s stronger push for fruits and other agricultural products already cleared for exports to mainland China.

“We’ve always looked at China as a profitable yet largely untapped market for our agricultural exports,” Usec. Puyat said. “We have to take advantage of our competitive edge over other suppliers in terms product quality and lower logistical cost due to our proximity,” she added. “Our farmers and producers of these fruits from Mindanao and other parts of the country are faced with that opportunity”

The three-day event is touted as Asia’s largest food innovation exhibition with nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 67 countries. During last year’s edition, around 76,000 visitors from 95 countries visited the various pavilions. SIAL China is being spearheaded by the same group that organizes Salon International de l’Alimentation (SIAL) Paris.

Usec. Puyat said SIAL China forms part of DA’s more intensified market linkage initiatives under the Duterte administration, both in domestic and global markets.

Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol earlier announced he will lead the charge as Philippine agriculture’s “top salesman” to help strengthen the marketing component of the food supply chain that has been its “weakest link.” 

“The Philippines has a lot to offer to the world and our farmers, fisherfolk and agricultural producers could certainly benefit from a government-initiated promotions and sales campaign,” Secretary Piñol said.

Aside from fresh fruits, DA will also exhibit processed and canned products, including fruit juices, banana chips, virgin coconut oil and other coco-based products, mushroom (dried), and dried fruits (jackfruit, durian and mango), coffee and fruit wines. Also to be promoted are select fishery products such as  bottled milkfish, deboned milkfish and canned Spanish-style sardines.

All Philippine products at SIAL China were Good Agriculture Practices- and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-certified, and producer-exhibitors accredited by relevant local and international food certifying systems such as the US Food and Drug Administration; International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM); Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, Inc. for halal food;  and Kosher for Jewish food compliance.

DA has regularly taken part in SIAL China. For this year’s edition, DA is facilitating the participation of 18 companies, namely: Herbio Agrinature from Pagadian City (mangosteen juice and nectar); Limenero Fruit Drinks from Cagayan de Oro (limoncito/calamanci concentrate); Spyte Global Enterprise from Misamis Oriental (coco sap sugar); Nature’s Fresh Pineapple Inc. from Bukidnon (fresh pineapple, corn seeds); See’s International (banana chips); Eng Seng Food Products (yema, pinato, dried durian chips and dried freeze durian); Southern Philippines Fresh Fruits Corp. (fresh mangoes); and RM Fresh Fruits from South Cotabato (fresh papaya); and Gabriel Fruit Production and Processing from North Cotabato (fresh mangoes).

Also included are: Magpet Agro-Industrial Resources Multi-Purpose Cooperative from North Cotabato (banana by-products); Jida Aqua Resources from Butuan City (bottled milkfish, deboned milkfish); Al-Mujahidun Agro Resources and Development (Cavendish banana); Fruits of Life Inc. from Quezon City (coconut water, coconut meat and canned Spanish sardines); Kitchen Witchery Food Ventures Inc. from Caloocan City (natural condiments  such vinegar, toyomansi and hot sauce); Sangkutsa Food Products from Quezon City (pickeled mangoes); Team Asia Corp. from Mandaluyong City (Lamoxin, VCO and coconut-by- products, toothpaste); Food for Thought Live Well Together Corp. from Bulacan (mushroom-by-products  such as crisipy mushroom, mushroom taro chips, and mushroom camote chip); and Liyann Enterprise and Services (Trappist monastic foods, banana chips and chocovron).

Aside from promotional activities during the three-day exhibition, the DA will also help organize meetings between exhibitors and their possible distributors. Tour of several supermarkets and distribution chains around Shanghai will also be held on the sidelines of the exhibition to check on the latest trends and requirements of the Chinese market.

The food sector is currently one of the fastest growing sectors (+20% per year) of the Chinese economy, based on data from SIAL China. Its food exports and imports both increased by 5% and 13% respectively in 2014. Major imports include oils, animal and vegetable fats, seafood, dairy products, cereals, wine, sugar, beer, poultry and meat. 

Philippine participation in SIAL China is being spearheaded by DA, in tandem with the office of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center under the Department of Trade and Industry. 

DA is represented by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service; the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration, Agribusiness and Marketing, and Regional Engagement; Regional Field Offices in Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCSKSARGEN, CARAGA and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and the Philippine Agricultural Counsellor’s Office in Beijing. (McBien Garcia, DA-Office of the Undersecretary for Agribusiness & Marketing)(Photo courtesy of McBien Garcia)

Reference:

Office of the Undersecretary for  Administration, 
Agribusiness and Marketing, and Regional Engagement
Contact No. 02-9277416 tel/fax