04 December 2015 - Organic food exports from the Philippines attracted the keen interest of international buyers and food connoisseurs at the Slow Food Asia Pacific Festival held at the KINTEX Convention Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province in South Korea from November 18 to 22. 

The festival, dubbed the AsiO (Asia-Oceania) Gusto 2015 event, showcased high-quality, sustainably-grown and healthy organic food (slow food) sourced from small scale farmers in Asia and Oceania.  

Beijing-based Philippine Agricultural Counsellor Victoriano Leviste led the Philippine delegation, which comprised of officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philippine agricultural producers.

The Philippine pavilion featured indigenous organic products such as Benguet Arabica and Batangas coffee, cocoa powder from Batangas, red long grain rice from Kalinga, heirloom rice from Ifugao, Adlai (Job’s Tear), bilimbi fruits (kamias), calamondin (kalamansi) juice, small chilis (siling labuyo), moringa (malunggay), virgin coconut oil, turmeric ginger lemon tea and flower tea.

On this occasion, Ms. Pacita U. Juan, ECHOstore founder and Slow Food Manila member, showcased organically cultivated indigenous coffee, coffee nibs and coffee powder packaged for export.

There is keen interest in South Korea to source Arabica coffee beans from the Philippines due to the strong demand for espresso coffee among Korean consumers.

Philippine Adlai also attracted attention during the event due to its unique taste and versatility in various food preparations. Adlai can be boiled and eaten like rice or added to stew and soups. Alternatively, ground Adlai can be used as flour for baking or fermented to produce beer and wine.

Through the AsiO Gusto 2015, the Slow Food Movement has sought to expand the consumer market for sustainably grown agricultural products and to encourage the general public to embrace a sustainable and healthier lifestyle.  

The Slow Food Movement, which began in Italy in the 1980s, was founded in response to the prevailing fast-food culture represented by international food chains. To date, the Slow Food Movement has 100,000 members in more than 160 countries. END