US fresh vegetables now available in the Philippines

Fresh celery, lettuce, and cruciferous vegetables from the United States are coming soon to markets in the Philippines. On June 30, 2014, the Philippines formally lifted restrictions on the import of these temperate climate vegetables, which are difficult to grow locally, from producers in the United States. This exciting development will relieve shortages and deepen agricultural ties between the two nations.

American producers previously enjoyed only limited access to the Philippine vegetable market, exporting US$57,000 of such products (mostly celery) in 2013. Trade experts predict that open market access will help these sales to reach $1 million within two years. Such commerce will be an asset to the burgeoning food service and retail sectors in the Philippines.

The agreement reached with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) ensures that all fresh vegetable shipments will have a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Phytosanitary Certificate. This is to verify that the shipments meet all the stipulations of the Plant Quarantine SPS Import Clearance. As with all fresh vegetable trade, importers will be required to obtain an SPS Import Permit from the DA Bureau of Plant Industry.

In the midst of the Philippine rainy season, when temperate climate vegetables are especially scarce, this is welcome news for Filipino and American entrepreneurs and consumers alike.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...

2020 Laoag City Traffic Code

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 58 TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 11 TH SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF LAOAG HELD AT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL, LAOAG CITY ON OCTOBER 14, 2020. PRESENT: 1. Hon. Vicentito M. Lazo City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer Hon. Juan Conrado A. Respicio II S.P....

Marcos town celebrates 3rd Pinakbet Festival

MARCOS, Ilocos Norte—Taking pride of this town ’s favorite Ilo cano dish, locally known as pinakbet, a mix of indigenous vegetables steamed in fish sauce, residents here ushered the opening of the third Pinakbet festival. “Pinakbet” came from the contracted Ilokano word ‘pinakebbet ’ which means “ shrunk ” or “shriveled.” As a way of thanksgiving, the Pinakbet festival is a repository of the town ’ s “ani” [harvest] festival being celebrated every month of March but this was later moved to December to accommodate more balikbayans wanting to join the festivity. Residents in this agricultural town derived most of their income from the harvest of high value crops, including rice, tobacco and corn as staple crops. This year, the week-long festivity highlighted a grand parade around the town plaza and a pinakbet cook fest at the municipal gymnasium to showcase the best pinakbet in town. A boodle fight followed suit. Earlier, a fun run was participated by various groups ...

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog