LEGAZPI CITY “• Albay culinary producers, particularly from its second congressional district, are set to participate in IFex Philippines, Asia’s premier ethnic food and ingredients show on May 19 to 21 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda’s congressional office is negotiating on behalf of local food manufacturers for slots in the food show, particularly those with export-ready products to help them gain access into the international market.
Salceda supported Albay’s food industry via the Culinaria Albay brand, which he pioneered during his nine-year stint as governor of Albay province. Culinary tourism helped boost Albay’s economy.
IFex Philippines is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition of the Philippines’ and Asia’s ethnic and specialty food, vegetables, tropical fruits, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery, meat and poultry, Halal-certified, as well as natural, organic and healthy food products.
The Bicol province’s forthcoming participation in IFex Philippines 2017 follows the impressive successes of the Culinaria Albay brand in the recent Madrid Fusion food expo on April 6 to 8 at SMX Convention Center in Mall of Asia, where buyers “• having familiarized themselves with Albayano ethnic gustatory tastes “• showed interest in native Albay foods.
Following the Madrid Fusion Manila food exposition, three international chefs and food writers from Russia, London and the Middle East chose Albay and Sorsogon for their post expo destinations, a validation of Culinaria Albay’s forward march, Salceda said.
Negotiations are also being undertaken for Albay to join the World Street Food Jamboree on May 31 to June 4 this year at Mall of Asia, with 28 of the world’s best Street Food Masters from 12 countries dishing out authentic mouth-watering heritage street foods.
Salceda sustained strong support for the promotion of culinary tourism, urging Albayanos to patronize more local products to further strengthen the native industry, “their homegrown chefs and restauranteurs” and help push their promotion worldwide.
Through Salceda’s programs when he served as governor, Albay earned world recognition as a global tourist destination, with interesting culinary assets as among its highlights and received various awards in tourism and related fields.
