ORGANIC products from Negros Occidental gained interest and captured more potential domestic markets during the recently-held 2nd Philippine Natural and Organic Products Expo held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
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Members of Organik Na Negros Producers and Retailers Association (Onopra) showcased the best of Negros’s natural and organic products like silk, muscovado sugar, coffee, wine, honey, rice, and processed products, including ginger and turmeric tea.
Onopra president Ramon Uy Jr. said Negrense organic farmers and producers earned at least P50,000 out of the three-day event.
Best-selling products are silk of the Organization for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (Oisca) Center in Bago City, weaved items of the Negros Nine Human Development Foundation Inc. in Kabankalan City, turmeric, coffee, honey, and organic rice.
“Through the national natural and organic product expo, the province’s organic industry has gained opportunity to establish a strong market in Manila,” Uy said.
He added that there is already a need to extend the Negrense market to Luzon so that the province will maintain its lead in the country’s organic industry.
The province has successfully showcased its capability and traceability in terms of organic products, Uy said.
After the national product expo, two pastry business establishments in Manila have started sourcing honey from the province.
Onopra has also been invited to join an organic market there, he added.
Moreover, the expo has provided an exposure opportunity for the province to promote its hosting of the 10th Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival and the 12th National Organic Agriculture Congress on November 25 to 29 this year.
Uy said the target 1,500 slots for the congress are already filled, and the additional 300 for walk-in participants are almost complete.
Most of those who visited the Negros booth at the expo also registered, he added.