‘Cold chain’ system warmly welcomed

It’s called "cold chain" but this government program is warmly welcomed.

In some parts of the country, farmers are now having bountiful times because of the setting up of the cold chain system (CCS).

A CCS refers to the refrigerated handling, storage, and transport operation of high-value crops from the farm to the market. It provides an appropriate temperature for the perishable crops to preserve their quality and prolong their shelf life.

Among those benefiting from the government’s cold chain program led by the DA-Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) are the vegetable growers in the Cordillera, the country’s foremost vegetable bowl.

A market research has been done by BPRE on high-value vegetables and a feasibility study of integrating the cold chain in the postproduction operation of the region’s vegetable growers.

The research noted that the system used to preserve high-value vegetables produced it the Cordillera (broccoli, carrot, bell pepper, lettuce, cauliflower, snap beans, and sweet peas) is significant for institutional buyers such as supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants.

The food establishments told the BPRE researchers that freshness is a very important attribute in every vegetable they bought – the size, color, maturity, uniformity, variety, packaging, origin, labeling, and form of the product.

The nutritional factors, size, shape, color, glossiness, absence of defects, firmness, crispiness, and aroma were among the considerations cited by hotels and restaurants.

The BPRE study also found that local government units (LGUs) can profit from rental fees when they invest in the cold chain system.

BPRE has also been promoting the system in Mindanao to assist vegetable growers in transporting their crops to major markets in Metro Manila.

Ricardo Cacheula, BPRE executive director, reported two major enterprising vegetable growers in Bukidnon have adopted the cold chain system for transporting their produce.

"The Department of Agriculture, through its National Cold Chain Program led by BPRE, helped these vegetable growers to keep their produce fresh during transport using the technology," Cachuela said.

DA provided two refrigerated trucks to the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association (Norminveggies) which they are using to transport vegetables to their clients in Metro Manila.

Norminveggies is helping develop Mindanao’s vegetable industry by increasing the farmers’ productivity, increasing the quality of their produce, ensuring food safety standards, generating investments in the cold chain system, and making the industry competitive.

An earlier BPRE study indicated that the Philippines imported 10,000 kilograms of vegetables in 1999. This increased to 1.1 million kg in 2000 and doubled (two million kg) in 2001.

"BPRE is conducting research, development, and extension (RDE) activities on cold chain to help our farmers reduce losses, improve the quality and quantity of their harvests, and ultimately help the country reduce the importation of high-value crops from other countries," Cachuela said. – RAF