New Pinoy Food Products Served Up at Major US Trade Show
Rommel Conclara, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Posted at 01/22/16 8:43 PM
SAN FRANCISCO – Over a dozen of unique Filipino food companies put their best products on display at one of the largest food trade shows in the United States.
Sixteen companies with different social dimensions represented the best of Filipino food at the annual Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.
Food Philippines is the industry brand for the food sector which unified the overseas commercial efforts of the Center for International Trade Exposition and Missions, the export promotions arms of the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry.
“This year is going to be a record year for us. We believe, initial results tell us that we’re going to hit easily more than $4 million of sales–negotiated, estimated sales–and we are deepening our inventory of products that we intend to bring regularly to the United States,” said Trade Commissioner Nicanor Bautista.
Brand exports Philippines and Peace and Equity Foundation work directly with farmers in the Philippines to distribute their produce around the world.
“We go to the smaller provinces, areas most people don’t even go. We talk to the farmers all over the world not only from our country, but even in China…so we know how they get their products to the global market, “said Fernando Medina of Brand Exports Philippines, Inc.
Mary Hensley of Montana-based Eight Wonder Inc. introduced rice from the Cordillera region to kitchens around the globe.
“Some of the biggest buyers of rice have been by, whether or not they would be purchasing rice, they certainly notice that there’s some very, very special rice varieties coming out of the Philippines,” Hensley said.
Even San Francisco bay area Filipino-Americans like Vincent Brodeth of Simex International showcased different products using lumpia wrappers.
Other exhibitors at the trade show definitely enjoyed what the Philippines had to offer.
The Philippine Trade Commission invites all Filipinos to support Filipino food products which will in turn support agricultural production in developing communities.