LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Governor Nestor Fongwan is pitching potatoes to corporations in a bid to market highland produce globally.
Fongwan said further tests are being done by Liwayway Marketing Corporation, maker of the Oishi line of chips, with the first batch of potatoes sent containing higher water content than what the company uses.
"Our [potatoes] did not match the water content standards [of the company]," he said.
Fongwan has been dealing with Liwayway for the past months sending samples of new imported potato varieties to the company in hopes to clinch a deal with the food industry leader for the sake of the local vegetable industry.
The province has the Calwhite, Cherokee, and Conestog varieties from Canada which has been cultivated here years ago.
He said more samples are being prepared for Liwayway composed of potatoes grown in less humid areas testing is water content would be lower.
Fongwan said the onset of the rainy season may have contributed to the high water content of the produce.
The governor said communication has also been sent to food chains like Jollibee and McDonalds offering to supply the companies with highland potatoes they could use for their French Fri line.
Fongwan said the province has to enter another market for produce to be able to stay economically viable especially when the Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) is implemented in 2016.
At present, the governor said potato varieties produced by farmers in the province are only good for table consumption and is not attune to standards set by global corporations.
During a visit to Thailand weeks ago, Fongwan was among the Philippine contingent of observers in the concluded food fair where Asean countries displayed various products.
Possible deals with Marigold Manufacturing Corporation, maker of the Mama Sita line of products may also be underway.
Fongwan said highland produce has a niche market in the global scene and just has to be marketed and pitched.
In preparation for the AFTA, Fongwan is batting for an alliance between vegetable-producing provinces backed by the Vegetable Industry Development Board.
So far, Northern Mindanao, Visayas as well as other temperate areas in the country have signified interest to join the group.
The AFTA was formed by the Asean countries in 1993 aiming to increase Asean's competitive edge in production in the world market. It will open doors for intense competition from the 10 Asean neighbors.
The AFTA implementation will push vegetable farmers to make produce world class, as markets will open globally for all nations.