The Possibilities of Indigenous Foods
According to an article released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on February 23, 2022, the FoodPhilippines (a brand under the umbrella of DTI) represented by 39 companies (9 exhibited onsite) raked a "running total of USD 23,634,500" during the Gulfood 2022 held at the Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13 – 17 February 2022.
The products showcased at the expo were (fresh/processed) tropical fruits abundant in the Philippines, such as mangoes, bananas, and pineapples. Also exhibited are Filipino halal-certified food products.
One of the exhibitors is Brandexports Philippines, Inc. The latest products featured on their website are famous dishes (delicacies) in some regions in the Philippines and are available in many karinderya (a food stall) in the country. One of the dishes is laing — an authentic Filipino dish made from taro leaves (commonly dried), mixed in coconut milk and seasoned with spices (including chili). This food originates in the Bicol region. The company put the dish in sealed and well-designed packs under the Food Sense (brand) Karenderia Classics and is ready to eat. With some innovations, the product can now reach a broad market in the Philippines and probably abroad.
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| A screenshot of local products from Brandexports Philippines, Inc. website |
Exported Filipino Delicacy
Based on an article published on the PhilStar Global website on August 1, 2004, the Department of Science and Technology-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) developed the product (canned laing) through its Venture Financing Program.
Moonbake, Inc. adopted the technology and presented it during an exhibit at the Casablanca Hotel. "Moonbake told The STAR that the company now produces 145,000 canned products (primarily "laing") per month. At least 70-80 percent of the products are exported, it added. A can cost P21".
The Idea
The Municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, has lots (of things) to offer (to the world). It is a land rich in natural resources that have been depleted or undeveloped/underdeveloped.
An example of the statement (above) is the occurrence of natural gas in an area in barangay Poblacion, a 69,631 hectares of production forest, 15,884 hectares of protected forest, and a 15,884 hectares of agricultural land.
Data from the Municipal Agriculture Office show that the land area utilized for crops is only 5,980.50. Among the crops planted, rice (field) occupies 47.89%, followed by corn with 22.15%. The so-called permanent crops cover 23.5% of the land area, and coconut occupies 9.3%, followed by rubber with 8.2%, then oil palm has the least with 6.0%.
Indigenous Foods Research and Innovation Program
The goals of this program are:
- Discover and re-invent local/native delicacies.
- Package and promote local foods.
- Distribute the brand all around the world.
The (Suggested) Implementation Process
The first activity in this program (under research) is to discover local delicacies. We need to visit places with preserved food cultures.
Online research is the next step. We will validate the gathered information from the visits. Then we will find ways to re-invent the delicacies to make them salable in the international market.
Implementation Strategy
A member of the selected (qualified) (5) household (of legal age) gets a job in a span of 1-month to be trained in food research and innovation. There may be a provision for financial and entrepreneurial training. After 1-month, another batch (5-6 members of the qualified) will continue the unfinished tasks. The process continues until the target beneficiaries in a year (66 households) obtain the skills to leverage in the national/international market.
Re-invent native delicacies
We will study the outputs from the research to create improved local delicacies and add them to the catering/restaurant menu.
The next step is the cooking of the native delicacies. There must be documentation of the process. Documentation includes writing down notes and taking photos/videos.
When the delicacy is (considered) perfect, add some twist to re-invent. A taste test is necessary to find the best dishes to add to the menu.
Package local foods
Packaging equipment and materials should be purchased to preserve the foods and transport them to different locations (around the world).
Collaboration/partnership with manufacturing companies or investors is vital when funds are limited.
Choose a member of the target households and provide them with technical training (i.e., equipment usage, financial/entrepreneurial education, etc.)
Promote local foods
Choose photos or videos to post/publish on social media platforms.
Create an e-store and decide on the prices of the foods (pricing strategies to use: G-B-B).
Write and post stories about the foods and the program. Hire professionals to take and edit photos of the packaged foods ready for sale and upload them to an e-store.
Distribute the brand all around the world
Purchase a truck for the logistics or contact logistics companies for support. Create a leads email list. Advertise with different platforms (e.g., Facebook Ads, Google Ads, Instagram Ads, etc.). Connect with influencers/bloggers advocating local products. Email them for possible collaboration/sponsorship.