We’ve been to a few organic farms around the Philippines these past three years. So it was a delight when we got an invitation to the “Philippine Harvest” Agri Food Fair that opened this morning at the Central Square Mall in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

It started with a ribbon cutting led by Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and officials of SSI Group, Inc.

Philippine Harvest @ Central Square Mall

Agricultural Dev’t in the Philippines

The Philippines boasts of having one of the most diverse array of agricultural selection – having a myriad of strains from rice, crops, beans and fruits harvested from the different provinces and regions of the country.

We’re a witness to these when our organic farming escapades started with DA‘s Agricultural Training Institute in Costales Farms in Laguna three years ago. From then on, we were able to visit other organic farms in Negros Occidental, Sagada, Beguet, and most recently, Bukidnon in Mindanao.

To celebrate and promote the richness of Philippine agriculture, the DA together with Central Square and SSI Group, organized the PHILIPPINE HARVEST, an Organic, Artisanal, Natural and Indigenous Agri Food Fair starting today – May 27, 2016, until May 29 at Central Square Mall.

One of exhibitors at “Philippine Harvest”

Organic Garlic (it rhymes!)

Visitors at the “Philippine Harvest” (Central Square)

Philippine Harvest

More than 30 exhibitors curated by the Department of Agriculture is present to showcase and sell products which include coconut and its derivatives, adlai, heirloom rice, organic colored rice, artisanal chocolates, dairy products, honey, cacao, coffee, tabon-tabon, sua, and organic meat. We’ll do a separate feature on these agricultural products soon.

“We at SSI are proud to partner with the Department of Agriculture to promote the best of what the Philippines has to offer. This is yet another way of enriching the lives of our customers – by offering them the opportunity to experience and appreciate the different varieties of Philippine food products as well as meet the men and women behind them,” shared Mr. Anthony Huang, President of SSI Group, Inc., who supports this endeavour.

Black RIce & Other Variants

Unprocessed Pili

DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat visiting the exhibitor booths

The three-day agri food fair is an avenue where you can buy, bring home and appreciate organic, artisanal, natural and indigenous products that are native to our country. The fair will be located at the lower and upper ground floors of Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central and will be open to the public during mall hours.

“This event will be an opportunity for us to meet some of our farmers, processors, and retailers of premium organic, natural, and indigenous products that reflect our culinary culture which is at par with international standards. I encourage everyone to be co-producers; grow some of your own food; eat real food; visit a farm; shake the hand that feeds you; know the story behind the food that you eat; meet your farmers and fisherfolks; learn more about your local or regional food history and cultural dishes. If that’s too much for you, just buy food that supports our local farmers and fisherfolks,” said DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Undersecretary for Special Concerns, and Chair of the National Organic Agricultural Board (NOAB).

More Photos:

Fresh Start from Negros Occidental, Visayas Region

Cocotos Estate from Davao

Organic Tomatoes

Organic Vegetables from Costales Farms in Laguna

Coco Dolce Exhibitor

Malagos Chocolates (Among these artisanal chocolates) won in the Eight Golden Bean Awards from the Academy of Chocolate in London.

Visit “Philippine Harvest” @ Central Square

“Philippine Harvest” @ Central Square along Bonifacio High Street Central

You guessed it, we weren’t able to resist of bringing home some healthy and organique goods from the “Philippine Harvest” Agri Food Fair! (Can you name these products?)

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Come and visit the Philippine Harvest Agri Food Fair at Central Square in BGC this weekend until May 29, 2016!