San Fernando, Pampanga—Joyful Organic Farm in Bulacan is the top seller among the 173 exhibitors who joined a five-day trade exhibit recently and raked in a combined P70 million order from local and foreign buyers.
Warren Serrano, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Luzon, said the total order was composed of cash, orders with down payment, and negotiated contracts from local and foreign buyers.
Out of the total P70 million, Serrano said about P20 million went to San Ildefonso-based Joyful Organic Farm and P2 million went to Edelyn’s Homemade Nuts of Pampanga.
The rest was divided among the small and medium-sized businesses who joined the five-day event on the 21st Likha ng Central Luzon held at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City from Oct. 2 to 6.
This year’s total sale is bigger than the P50 million posted in the previous year.
Jocelyn Reyes, owner of Joyful Organic, said their orders consisted of P8.8 million from local buyers and P12 million from Singaporean buyers, with different varieties of healthy grains like brown, red, black, pink and blended rice.
The locals are institutional, while the Singaporean buyer need a supply of 20-footer container vans monthly, Reyes said.
Many people are now shifting to organic because it is healthier with antioxidants, and safe to eat because of fewer pesticides used in the production, she added.
Serrano said the successful exhibition was the joint effort of Judith Angeles, regional director of DTI in the region, Central Luzon Growth Corregidor Foundation Inc. chaired by Gov. Susan Yap of Tarlac and supported by Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda and other governors of the region.
The CLGCFI aims to develop Central Luzon through the help of the small and medium enterprises by urging them to join trade exhibits to attract local and international buyers.
The 173 small and medium enterprises who joined the annual trade exhibit were financially assisted by the DTI in the amount of P 5 million for booths while transportation and a hotel accommodation were shouldered by the CLGCFI of Gov. Yap, Serrano said.
Aside from organic food, buyers also bought delicatessen, accessories, Christmas decors, jewelry, bags, footwear, gift items, ceramics, and other export items, Serrano added.
Meanwhile, another exhibit will be held at Clark on Oct 17 and 18 at the ASEAN Convention Center inside the Freeport sponsored by CLGGFI and DTI in the region.