COCONUT—one of the Philippines’s top export products—was showcased in the just concluded first online edition of the world’s leading trade fair for organic food, Biofach 2021.
The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), in coordination with the Philippine and Investment Center in Berlin, led a delegation of five home food companies featured under the FoodPhilippines banner during the three-day digital event that was held from February 17 to 19.
This included AG Pacific Nutriceuticals, Brandexports Philippines Inc. Filipinas Organic Coconut Product Corp., Pasiolco Agri-Ventures, and Tongsan Industrial Development Corp.
Together with all the participants worldwide, these homegrown firms were screened and passed Biofach’s strict standard for organic food exports, as all products in the show must be certified organic by the European Union.
According to Citem Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, locally produced organic coconut products were exhibited as the tropical fruit continues to be among the country’s top performers in terms of export sales.
AG Pacific Nutriceuticals featured, among others, its coconut cacao chips and coconut aminos, which is a blend of coconut nectar, fermented coconut skim milk, locally grown organic spices.
Local organic coconut-based ingredients, likewise, were displayed, ranging from coconut creme/milk and coconut sugar from Brandexports Philippines Inc., desiccated coconut and coconut flour from Filipinas Organic Coconut Product Corp., and coconut sap syrup and coconut sweetener from Pasiolco Agri-Ventures.
Tongsan Industrial Development Corp., on the other hand, presented a couple of its four flagship products’ virgin coconut oil and refined deodorized bleached coconut oil.
Apart from showcasing their products, the exhibitors got the chance to network via video meetings and chats with various stakeholders, including policy-makers and organic-food advocates and enthusiasts.
“We applaud our Philippine delegation for braving this new world that we’re in,” said Abdulgani Macatoman, Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary for the Trade Promotions Group.
“As the world’s second-largest coconut producer, coupled with the caliber of our delegation’s organic coconut products, we’re confident that one of our signature agricultural products will once again account for the strong export performance of the Philippines,” he added.
As of 2018, the Philippines has grown about 338.7 million fruit-bearing coconut trees, with 68 of the 81 provinces considered as coconut-producing areas.
Two years ago, the local coconut industry accounted for an estimated export volume of 2 million metric tons and brought in more than $2 billion in export revenue annually.
The Philippine participation in Biofach 2021 was organized in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center Berlin.