DA-NorMin showcases local products during High Value Crops week celeb

 

In line with the nationwide celebration of the High Value Crops (HVC) Week from April 7 to 11, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) promotes local agricultural produce and by-products during the staging of a product exhibit, held at the DA-Central Office, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City.

Region 10’s booth features a variety of fresh agri harvest and value-added products, including cacao-based items from Candi-isan Diversified Agricultural Farming (Malaybalay City, Bukidnon) and Jimenez Cacao Growers Association, Inc. (Jimenez, Misamis Occidental). Pineapple fruits and pineapple-based products were also showcased by Magsaysay Farmers (Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental) and Pineapple Growers Credit Cooperative (Magsaysay, MisOr), along with other product offerings from Del Monte Philippines, Inc.

Additionally, DA-10 brought along its research station products such as Adlai blend coffee and wine products made of roselle, sweet potato and yacon.

This year’s celebration marks the 30th anniversary of Republic Act No. 7900, otherwise known as the High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995, which aims to promote the production, processing, marketing and distribution of high-value crops.

With the theme, “Pagkaing Sapat, Masustansya Dapat,” DA Assistant Secretary for High Value Crops, Atty. Joycel R. Panillo shared, that the theme underscores that food security is not just about availability or food sufficiency but it is also about nutrition access and quality.

“High value crops are at the forefront of that mission, from fruits rich in vitamins to vegetables that nourish families across the country to export crops that fuel our rural economies. These products are essential to both national health and economic resilience. We have a shared goal of ensuring that every Filipino has access to not just enough food but food that is nourishing, diverse and proudly grown by our local farmers,” Atty. Panillo added.

The HVC week also coincides with the national celebration of the Filipino Food Month this April, recognizing the unique culinary identity, rich agricultural resources, and hardworking farmer-producers that make Filipino food special. # (AMBM/Photos supplied)