MANILA – An online version of the Philippine Harvest, a trade and food expo, was launched on Wednesday to adapt to the current health crisis and the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
Through the innovative "online trade fair", consumers may order directly from the social media accounts of participating farmers and producers and deliveries will be made via services such as GrabExpress and Lalamove.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said the Philippine Harvest Facebook page at facebook.com/PhilippineHarvest will feature products from 27 local food producers starting April 22.
“With our efforts in taking the Philippine Harvest online, we are showing that Covid-19 will not stop our mission of making locally-sourced food sustainable and available to Filipinos," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.
“Not only can Filipinos continue to enjoy the best of local food products, but the hardworking farmers of our farm tourism sites and MSMEs can still receive the support they need," she added.
DOT’s Philippine Harvest Trade Fair was established in 2018 in partnership with SSI Group and Central Square Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig to champion the richness of Philippine agriculture, through local, organic, artisanal, and indigenous food products from each of the Philippines’ regions.
The endeavor aims to link the farms and the private sector to new markets as well as promote local cuisine and ingredients amid the community quarantine.
The participation of featured merchants is free of charge, and intends to soften the economic impact of the pandemic on local food and farm producers, DOT said. (PNA)
