Department of Agriculture (DA) and Resto PH, an organization of different restaurant brands in the Philippines, partnered with SM Supermalls to bring the farm-to-table experience of Farmers’ Produce to SM City Baguio this October 22 to November 1.
With 27 participating merchants, the biggest and longest caravan leg yet, shoppers will enjoy a wide selection of affordable organic produce sourced straight from local farms to help jumpstart the country’s agriculture and restaurant industry in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.
“The reception of people during our first leg was very overwhelming, and so we decided to continue on and bring this experience to more shoppers in the metro. At the same time, we are very happy to help our local farmers and businesses the best way we can,” said Steven Tan, SM Supermalls president.
Farmers’ Produce will be open from 10AM to 8PM on weekdays and weekends, at the Lower Ground Floor, Mall Atrium. The market will feature various local farms, including Bosigan MPC, Cacadcadaan Farmers’ MPC (Mankayan & La Trinidad, Benguet), Palayen Farms/ Tiking Manyedyed Farmers’ Association; (Bauko, Mt. Province), LaTOP MPC (La Trinidad, Benguet), Our Farmers Haven (OFH) (La Trinidad, Benguet), TOFPA Cooperative, Cordillera Organic Practitioners Multipurpose Cooperative (BAPTC, La Trinidad, Benguet), Brgy. Loacan Organic Farmers’ Association (BLOFA) (Loacan, Itogon, Benguet), Benguet Heirloom Rice Farmers Agriculture Cooperatives (BHRFAC), Mt. Province Heirloom Rice Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (MPHRFAC), Kalinga Rice Terrace Farmers Agricultural Cooperative (KRTFAC), Gameng Inc.(Banangan, Sablan), Atok Arabica Coffee Growers Marketing Cooperative (Atok, Benguet), Tuba Benguet Coffee Growers Association (Tuba, Benguet), Mountain High Dairy Cooperative (Baguio City), Bantey Pisek Kiweng Organization Inc. (BANPIKOI), Seeds and Fruits Multi- Purpose Cooperative, and the DA who will sell farm-fresh produce such as vegetables, tea and coffee selections, local wines, and fruits in season including violet potatoes and heirloom rice.
The weekend market will also house a range of best-selling plants from the Bureau of Plant Industry.
Resto PH restaurants including Mango Tree cafe, Kureji, H.O.Y. House of Yogurt, Black Scoop Cafe, North Brew, Green Smoothie, Manam, and Meat Plus Café will be selling delicious meals that were prepared using the farmers’ ingredients at pop-up booths at Farmers’ Produce.
(Jessica Joy Fernando | OIC Joe Manzano, RPN DZBS Baguio)