20 August 2013 -  Philippine Consul General to Los Angeles Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega welcomed the Outbound Business Mission (“Barkadahan 2013”) with a reception at the Consul General’s Official Residence in Los Angeles on August 13.

The Agri-Business Mission was organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and was led by DA Assistant Secretary Allan Umali in coordination with Agriculture Attaché Josefine Javelosa.  The Agri-Business Mission is composed of 18 companies namely: Aiza’s Sweets; Amarich Marketing Int’l, Balaw-Balaw Foods, Inc.; Dealo Koffee Klatch Bakeshop; Golden hands Manufacturing Corp.; Jamla Corp.; La Carlotta Food Enterprise; La Pacita; Mapagmahal Foods Quality Factors Corp.; Mega Fishing Corp.; MFP Home of Quality Food Corp.; MLGS Herb Products; Monde M.Y. San Corporation; Pasciolco Agri Ventures; Pearl Foods Int’l, Inc. Philippine Seawealth Food Inc.; Sasmuan Delicaies; and, Vacal Vino De Coco.

The members of the Agri-Business Mission had a day of successful Business Matching with US based companies at the Pacific Palms Hotel, City of Industry on August 14.   This event provided an opportunity for the Philippine companies to establish new contacts and to market their products to potential buyers for distribution and sale in the US.

The members of the Outbound Agri-Business Mission culminated their activities in San Diego where they held a "Barkadahan Fair" at Seafood City, Chula Vista, California on August 17 and 18. Consul General Barber De La Vega led the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Fair on August 17. 

Consul General Barber De La Vega, Vice Consul Mary Joy Ramirez and Trade Representative Jojie Dinsay went around the Fair to try the sample agri-products of the participants.

The members of the agri-business mission will conduct a market survey in San Diego before they return back to the Philippines.  END