ONLINE FAIR LETS YOU HELP FARMERS WHILE ON QUARANTINE

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday launched the online vehicle of the Philippine Harvest trade fair, which aims to make local food products from small farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises more accessible to consumers amid the difficulties posed by the coronavirus crisis.

The Philippine Harvest Facebook page, launched by the DOT in partnership with leading retail group SSI Group Inc., features local, organic and artisanal products from 27 food producers who can make deliveries to interested buyers in selected areas.

Among the food products exhibited online are organic vegetables from the North; kombucha tea and other beverages; native cheese, chocolate and honey products; coffee beans from Mt. Apo farms; and assorted seafood.

“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.

Consumers may order directly from the respective social media accounts of participating merchants. The products will be sent to the buyers via delivery services such as Grabexpress and Lalamove.

The participation of the featured merchants in the online fair is free of charge.

The project hopes to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing community quarantines on local food producers, as well as promote local cuisine and ingredients to households coping with the lockdown.

The DOT’S Philippine Harvest trade fair was established in 2018.