IT may have entered global consciousness as a must-visit destination because of The Lord of the Rings, but New Zealand has more than breathtaking sceneries to offer. Its freshest produce and premium food products were the highlight of the Food Connection Manila (FCM), held recently at the New World Hotel in Makati.
FCM is the Philippine leg of the trade-show series hosted by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), which gives food and beverage professionals in other countries an opportunity to taste some of New Zealand’s premium produce and meet the country’s key producers. The show runs across Asia, with previous segments in Phuket and Singapore.
In the Philippine leg of the trade show, food and beverage firms from kiwi country showcased their products as a testament to why New Zealand remains as one of the most trusted global food providers in the world.
Present in the lineup were wine firms Brumms Quality Wines, Babich Wines, Kono New Zealand and Te Pa Family Wines; and food and beverage companies Emerald Foods, Equilibrium Intertrade Corp., Federated Distributors Inc., Santini Food Specialists Inc. and Fonterra Brands Philippines Inc.
“New Zealand products are known for their distinctive taste and quality and [FCM] was a great opportunity to showcase them to Filipinos,” New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the Philippines Hernando Banal said in a statement. In the Philippines, while New Zealand’s biggest exports remain to be predominantly dairy products, goods such as wine, confectionaries and healthy and natural beverages have experienced significant growth in recent years.
“We know that Filipinos today are looking for convenient food that not only caters to their increasingly busy lifestyle but are also healthy, safe and delicious. New Zealand products bring to the table these criteria for sustainability and organic production,” Banal said, adding that their country’s naturally fertile environment, moderate climate, geographical location make it an ideal location for food production.
“New Zealand takes pride in its reputation as a trusted food supplier, thus, we make sure that every food product that comes out of New Zealand undergoes the strictest food safety and biosecurity measures,” Banal added.
New Zealand has a highly transparent and rigorous safety system that is strictly overseen by the New Zealand government’s Ministry for Primary Industries. This, along with the country’s stringent food safety laws, export laws and regulations, have earned it recognition by many of the world’s global food and beverage companies. In addition, New Zealand is free of a wide range of animal diseases, with recognized status by the World Health Organization, resulting in higher yields and wider market access. The country’s livestock are principally raised in open pasture, making its free-range, grass-fed meat a sought-after premium commodity in international markets.