DAGUPAN CITY , Philippines – Since Filipinos tend to buy round fruits for good luck to usher in the new year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is calling on consumers to patronize locally grown fruits to help local farmers.
“By buying fruits that are planted, cultivated, harvested and sold locally, we help our own farmers earn more from their hard work, and at the same time, encourage more production of these commodities,†Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was quoted as saying in a report on the Philippine Information Agency’s website.
“After all, locally grown round fruits abound, and they are as good, if not better, than the imported ones in terms of taste and nutritional value,†he added.
Every New Year’s Eve, Filipino families place 12 fruits, representing the 12 months of the year, on their dining table for decoration as well as to feast on during the media noche.
The 12 “lucky fruits†that the DA has suggested people buy are rambutan, guyabano (sour sop), atis (custard apple), caimito (star apple), coconut, lanzones, bayabas (guava), mabolo (butterfruit or velvet apple), dalandan (native orange), pineapple, melon and chico.
Consumers may also opt for Davao fruits such as pomelo and mangosteen. For those who love exotic fruits, they may try indigenous fruits such as sapinit or local wild raspberry.
The DA has been advocating increased consumption of fruits and vegetables to improve the nutritional condition of adults and children.
The latest available nutritional data indicated that Filipinos have been eating fewer vegetables and fruits from 1978 to 2008, with average per capita consumption of vegetables at 110 grams (down from 145 grams in 1978) and fruits at 54 grams (from 104 grams in 1978.)
Released in December 2012 by the National Statistical Coordination Board, the survey also suggested that the country’s consumption of vegetables and fruits was among the lowest in Asia.
The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 400 grams of vegetables and fruits per person (150 kilograms per year) to help prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, obesity and other so-called lifestyle diseases.