RP Food Expo gets sponsors

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (DTI-BSMED), Quedancor, National Food Authority, National Agricultural and Fishery Council and the Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Services, are co-sponsoring this year’s Philippine Food Expo 2004 of the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex) scheduled from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at the SM Mega Trade in Mandaluyong City.

Also extending its support to Philfoodex are the Department of Agrarian Reform, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Philexport, Globe Handyphone, Food Magazine of ABS-CBN, Goldilocks. Vantage and Design Center of the Philippines.

The five-day show is a one-stop food extravaganza showcasing native and regional delicacies, fresh and processed fruits, fresh and processed meat and seafood products, snack foods, condiments and sauces, bakery products and ethnic foods for export.

The coming food exhibit, according to Philfoodex president Jesus T. Tanchanco Sr., will be bigger than its first and second food expositions. This year he said, "we expect about 300 food exhibitors as more have signified their intention to participate in this once a year event.

"It will be a big event where some of the country’s food manufacturers and processors will showcase their products. We expect this food exposition to be visited by institutional buyers from food service establishments and supermarkets, retailers, exporters, traders and foreign buyers. We would like to impress on them that our food products are at par with the best in the world," he said.

Maxine Vitasa, chairman of Philfoodex committee on local food fairs, said food manufacturers and processors from as far as Mindanao, Cebu, Laguna, Bicol, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Pampanga, and Bulacan have already signed up to exhibit their wares during the exposition.