This year’s event hopes to raise the bar even higher, as it also envisions itself as a platform for innovation, connection and growth.
By Angela Dorein Gutierrez
From the savory and sweet flavors of homemade chips, jams and chocolates to the tantalizing aroma of local herbs, coffee and wine, the recently concluded 2024 One Town, One Product (OTOP) Food Fair of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) unveiled a treasure-trove of top-notch products the country has to offer.
Consisting of over 105 stalls or kiosks at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, the fair, dubbed as a “A Feast for the Senses,” showcased an array of local delicacies from the country’s regions.
In its desire to go beyond typically displaying local products that many jaded consumers are already used to, the food fair went one step further by appealing to their other senses by having them smell, sometimes touch and even taste the food items on offer. It was the organizers’ hope that the taste, aroma, textures and stories behind each product or delicacy on display would translate into bigger demand, generating not only jobs, but also introducing more Filipinos to the richness of the country’s food culture. Among the featured micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were Malagos Agri-ventures Corporation, which introduced Davao-sourced and manufactured chocolate bars, nibs and tablea.
Present as well was Bantog Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), which displaed a refreshing set of flavored milk from Pangasinan.
Cashew products made by Alion Kapit Bisig Sea-K Association were another worthwhile stop. The enterprise offered cashew butter and cookies aside from their signature roasted nuts from Bataan.
The fair’s overall aim was to provide a better avenue for MSMEs to connect with institutional buyers and mainstream markets, appealing to buyers and consumers through their diverse set of products covered in vibrant packaging.
Such sentiments were shared by DTI Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona during her welcome remarks.
“[A]ng sasarap, dapat lumabas na ito dito sa ating bansa. Grabe ang quality, napakaganda ng packaging.” she said (They’re all good and deserve to beexported to the rest of the world. Quality is top-notch and their packaging is beautiful).
Coming from the success of the recent Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair of the DTI last July, which drew around 50,000 visitors, this year’s event hoped to raise the bar even higher, as it also envisioned itself as a platform for innovation, connection and growth.
