Farm products, delicacies on sale in agri fair in Capitol compound

FARM products and delicacies of Cebu’s towns are on sale at the Cebu Capitol compound for the province’s annual agricultural fair.

The fair is part of Cebu’s 443rd Founding Anniversary.

Among the items for sale are organic tomatoes and eggplants from Minglanilla at P25 per kilo.

Jaime Manayon, a staff member of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Minglanilla, said they are on track to exceed their target after they sold 100 kilos the first time they joined the fair last December.

At the booth of the Dawis Norte Fishermen Association of Carmen, Cebu, live mud crabs are sold at P400 per kilo, cheaper compared to those sold in malls. Apolonario Reyes, president of the people’s organization, said it was their first time to participate in the fair. He said there’s a strong demand for crabs from hotels and restaurants and even from walk-in clients.

He said the mud crabs came from one of the enterprise programs of the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project (ICRMP) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7.

Massage services at only P50 are offered by the Women’s Provincial Federation.

The Agro Fair and Exhibit opened Wednesday and will run until Aug. 6. Stores are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Talisay’s lechon was one of the most sought-after products at the fair. Last year, the Talisay City Government recorded sales of P18,000 per day for the lechon alone, said Aiko Balisado, a City Hall representative.

Provincial veterinarian Mary Rose Vincoy said there are 75 booths in the fair, 37 of which are run by local government units (LGUs) and 38 by private enterprises.

Vincoy, who is the co-chairperson of the fair, said Capitol will not have a share of the sales. They only charge P1,000 to private exhibitors as payment for the booth. The municipalities, on the other hand, have booths for free.

Bantayan’s dried danggit, Carcar’s chicharon, Argao’s torta and Liloan’s rosquillos are also on display.

Capitol also had a booth for the products of their Balili lot. The booth is named “Ani sa Balili” and sold fresh bangus (milk fish), bananas, papaya and buko.