The Organic Capital of the Philippines, Negros Occidental, in partnership with Slow Food International and other local government agencies, is hosting the first-ever Slow Food Terrace Madre Visayas in Bacolod City.
Happening until Nov. 19, 2023, this event is designed to promote good, clean, and fair food sources. This event aims to help farmers and consumers build a strong relationship. Farmers have control over selling their organic products, while consumers are empowered to make wise decisions when it comes to sourcing their food.
In this event, farmers from the Western Visayas region joined and showcased their produce. Here are three reasons why you should support this event.
To help the farmers
Due to commercialization, farmers often lack direct control over selling and pricing their produce, with some retailers buying it at meager prices. This event empowers farmers to set prices for their fresh produce, ensuring budget-friendly options. Additionally, all the produce here is clean and organic.
To find hidden kitchen gems
The Philippines boasts rich biodiversity, with each region or province often housing endemic ingredients, as seen in Western Visayas. At this fair, discover rare ingredients, including tultul, an artisanal organic salt from Guimaras. Crafting tultul is a meticulous process involving driftwood and coconut milk, demanding hard work and discipline. Its distinctive flavor serves as a substitute for regular salt, providing a unique finish to beverages and dishes. Try sprinkling it atop your chocolate drink for a salted chocolate finish, or, for locals, dab it on steaming hot rice with some lard oil.
There's also batwan, an endemic fruit in the Visayas region used as a souring agent in soups like sinigang. Lastly, there's kadyos, known as pigeon pea in English, a key ingredient in the province's famous dish KBL (kadyos, baboy, langka).
In addition, you can find different types of coffee with unique flavor notes, including robusta and liberica, from the mountain areas of Western Visayas. And, of course, what is a farmers' market without gastronomic food choices? Foodies shouldn't miss the grilled eel (locally known as salisali), freshly made piaya, and fried frogs.
To discover and engage in Visayan culture
One of the best ways to discover any culture is through food. Slow Food Terra Madre event is a gateway to that. Here, you will not simply buy organic, healthy, and quality products but will be able to interact with the farmers who grow our food and learn a thing or two from them.
Founded in 1989, Slow Food is a global grassroots organization championing for everyone to have access to good, clean, and fair food. Meanwhile, Terra Madre is one of the organization’s programs known as a significant food event that already took place in different parts of the globe, such as the US, South Korea, and Japan.
When asked why Slow Food decided to bring it to the Philippines, Paolo di Croce, the director general of Slow Food International Italy, mentioned that it's because of the rich diversity of the Philippines, especially in the Visayas region.
“Here, you have a unique situation. In my first few hours here I’m hearing about how food is important in the tradition, in the culture,” Paolo tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “I believe that here you have an unbelievable opportunity to start from what you have and try to fight not to lose it.”