The 5th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival is slated on December 2-4, to celebrate the gains that the local organic food stakeholders and organizers have achieved since the festival started in 2006.
The three-day festival, considered as the first and the longest running festival of its kind in the country, will feature cooking demonstrations of organic food by famous Negrense …chefs; exhibits of organic, healthy, local and vegetarian food, and eco- friendly products and technology; talks by nationally and internationally known experts on organic food production and business and related topics; agri-tourism health and wellness fair, and open air concerts of live bands.
Exhibits will be displayed at the Organic na Negros! Market at the back of the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Building, while simultaneous symposia will be held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall and event booth.
The activities, that will center on the theme, “Organic Agriculture: Consolidating Gains, Meeting Challenges and Opportunities,” will start on December 2 at 8 a.m. with a Thanksgiving Mass and blessing of the newly renovated Organic na Negros! Market, to be officiated by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra.
An opening ceremony will follow, where Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr., Negros Oriental Governor Agustin Perdices, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. George Arnaiz Jr., Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, and Agriculture regional executive director Larry Nacionales will address guests and participants.
The festival will feature organic cooking demonstrations by chefs Margarita Fores, Jomi Gaston, Richard Ynayan, Aboy Evaristo and BJ Uy and talks by Mara Pardo de Tavera, Dr. Albert Jo, Honey Grace Catalan, Pamela Henares, Pastor Jerry Dionson, Juan Miguel Gaston, Sagay City Vice Mayor Kent Javelosa, Marivic Rio, Joseph Reyes, Ramon Uy Jr., Ramon Penalosa, Nicholas Matti, Nunelucio Alvarado, Akia Brown, Stephen Zaragosa, and Nelson Sotomil.
To talk about fair trade is Tristan Lecomte, president of Alter Eco of France, who is one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World as a fair trade visionary in its April 2010 issue.
Also to talk about social entrepreneurship is Pacita “Chit” Juan, one of the founders of Figaro Coffee Company, the largest Filipino-owned chain of coffee shops in the Philippines. She is also the president of the Philippine Coffee Board.
The Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival is spearheaded by the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (NISARD) Foundation, in collaboration with the Negros Occidental provincial government and Organic na Negros! Organic Producers and Retailers Association (ONOPRA).
5th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival Schedule of Activities
