DA to showcase PH’s top agri products in Madrid Fusión

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DA to showcase PH’s top agri products in Madrid Fusión The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now preparing to showcase top agricultural products of the Philippines in Spain’s most important gastronomy congress—the Madrid Fusión—to be held at the Mall of Asia’ SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on April 24−26, 2015.

According to DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the agency will put up a booth in the event where the country’s top agricultural exports will be exhibited.

Among these products are coconut and its by-products such as coco sugar and coconut oil, heirloom rice, coffee, cacao, mango, pineapple, banana, dalandan, kalamansi, chocolates, cheeses, wines, nuts, preserves, and tuna.

“We will also showcase products that are only found in the Philippines such as batuan, sua, kamias and adlai, among others,” Puyat added.

Madrid Fusión Manila, through the DA, will also feature regional lunches that will focus on local dishes such as lechon, kinilaw and other local staples cooked with each island region’s finest fish, meat, vegetable and spice products.

“For the regional lunches, we will be showcasing all the top dishes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao using our top export products and products that can only be found in our country,” Puyat said.

DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the department’s participation in the event will be an opportunity to further mainstream top-quality agricultural products of the country in the international gastronomic arena.

“This could link producers of high-quality agricultural products—especially artisanal and organic—to potential markets within and outside the country,” Alcala said.

Madrid Fusión Manila is a joint partnership among the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), along with Madrid Fusión organizers Foro de Debate and Arum Estrategias de Internacionalización. The first in Asia and the biggest culinary gathering yet in the Philippines, the event will be part of the “Visit the Philippines Year 2015” campaign of the DOT.

Organized annually since 2003, Madrid Fusión brings together the most prestigious and innovative chefs from all over the world, bridging cultures through good food, and enabling the world “to see the future of food.”