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
thank you for your good work ….can you please help me contact Mara this is the contact info i have and it is not working i am an old friend of hers from hawaii i have written to the e mail with no response and the phone numbers are not working from usa
MARA PARDO DE TAVERA 63 917 8921432 63 92079071 oryzabel@gmail.com 11-88 tamarind rd das marinas
thank you,
howard james
808 968 7622 organicfarming2005@yahoo.com
Hi! I’ll try to get in touch with one of the organizers who may know how to contact Ms. Mara.
Please also visit our symposium: Ginebra San Miguel’s Cassava Farming Program at the 2nd Floor of Sweet City Captel (Gatuslao St. cor. N. Capitol Rd.) on December 2, 2010 from 1 – 5pm. Let us all work together for sustainable “balanghoy” farming throughout Negros. For interested parties please contact 0917-569-8721 (look for Ed) or visit our website at http://www.gsmi-farming.blogspot.com. Thank you!
Thanks for the info. It’s a business opportunity worth looking into. Those interested should hurry since there are only limited seats. Maranon Hall I think can only accommodate around 50 pax.
Thanks for this post. Subscribing to experiencenegros.com really keeps me up to date on what’s happening around town. This post reminds me to ask my husband to produce organic sugarcane for cane juice. Hope you can find space somewhere in experiencenegros.com to spread the word that fresh or frozen sugarcane juice is available at Ni’s Arista Treats, 2nd floor (in snack area near elevator to the ground floor), Chinatown Square. Here’s a link to the health benefits of sugarcane juice – http://tsyka.com/2010/11/sugarcanejuicehealthenergy/
Sugarcane juice is a better alternative to softdrinks and it’s more refreshing too. We no longer have to wait for Panaad sa Negros in order to have a taste of sugarcane juice. Will definitely help in spreading the word.