Agency turns over veggie processing plant to La Trinidad

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Benguet's fruit and vegetable processing plant has been cited as among the models of the government's national cold chain project, a program seeking to raise the economic lives of farmers through improved post-harvest facilities. Quoting Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Bureau of Post-harvest Research and Extension (BPRE) Executive Director Ricardo Cachuela said the fruit and vegetable minimal processing plant in La Trinidad is a showcase of the advanced thinking of local officials in a bid to improve the agriculture industry. The processing plant, which can accommodate six tons of agricultural commodities for processing daily, is located near the vegetable trading post in La Trinidad. "This is a unique model and I can say this is a template of advancement, which is the result of Benguet's advanced thinking and planning," said Cachuela, who talked in behalf of Yap during Wednesday's turnover of the processing plant to the La Trinidad Municipal Government. He said the facility is a pioneering model of the government's national cold chain program. Cachuela headed the turnover of the fruit and vegetable processing facility from the BPRE to the local government. Dole-Philippines has partnered with the local government in the operation of the facility. The firm will serve as the marketing arm for the commodities produced in the processing plant. Jun Luna, Dole's sourcing executive for Asia, said the firm will be exclusively operating the facility for 12 of the 24 hours operation. The company will rent the facility for P8,000 a month for the 12-hour operation. "We will give the remaining 12-hour operation to the farmers and other players," he said, adding however that it will still be supervised by Dole. Vegetables currently processed at the facility, including baby broccoli, are exported to Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, through Dole. Other commodities exported are lettuce, faba beans and Brussels sprouts. Luna said these products are also sold at supermarkets, five-star hotels and restaurants all over the country. The baby broccoli is sold locally at P40 per 150 grams or P450 per kilo, Luna said. The firm is also looking at potatoes and carrots for processing and export soon. John Gregory Dioquino, general manager of Dole Northern Philippines sourcing division, meanwhile encouraged farmers to adopt the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to improve competitiveness. Mayor Artemio Galwan said the processing facility will be Benguet's edge to the growing vegetable production in Mindanao. Mindanao, Galwan said, is now competing with the region's vegetable production. "This is why we have to focus more on improving the quality of our produce," he said. - Sun.Star Baguio