Demand for cacao is growing
MORE PROCESSORS NEEDED IN PANGASINAN
THE Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), revealed that while the demand for cacao in Region 1 continues to grow, the cacao industry’s production is very low, unable to meet the local demand.
This information was bared in a press conference on July 7, during the celebration of the World Chocolate Day in Pozorrubio by David John Rondal of the High Value Crop Development Program under the DA Regional Office I.
Rondal said Pangasinan remains the top producer with eight active processors of cacao products, six in Ilocos Sur, four in La Union, and two in Ilocos Norte.
The DTI data revealed that only 10,000 metric tons (MT) out of the 50,000 cacao demand in the country, is being produced.
Rosario Chua, the founder of Cacao Growers and Marketing Cooperative of Pozorrubio said shopping malls have been asking for more delivery of cacao products.
Her cooperative, established in 2016, with only less than 30 members, is the first in region to create locally-produced chocolates.
Among the cooperative’s products are milk chocolate, chili chocolate, 70-percent dark chocolate, and milk chocolate with coffee flavor.
Other cacao processors in the province are the Cocoa Federico/Royal Cocoa Farm, Myrna’s Food Products, Chocomaker.ph, Aquino’s Natural Chocolate Food Products, DPP Cacao Products, Mimi’s Cacao Processing, and Estrella’s Cacao Products Manufacturing.
To meet the growing demand for cacao products, the DA is conducting training on ‘Good Agricultural Practices’ in the cacao industry to urge farmers to plant more cacao. (Ahikam Pasion)
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