Cordilleran dinengdeng and fruit chips among 10 products out in the market soon

Apayao, Philippines – Two products of the Department of Science and Technology –Cordillera are among the 10 newly-developed products that will be soon introduced in the market.

This is after the Vacuum Fried Dinengdeng Chips and the Mixed Fruit Chips – two among the three entries of DOST-CAR were chosen by a pool of experts during the North Luzon Food Innovation Center (FIC) Cluster Fair Marketing Academy held on May 11 to 12, 2022 at the Hotel Supreme, Baguio City.

The Cluster Fair Marketing Academy is a venue for pitching and marketing presentations of innovative products created by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and state universities and colleges from Cordillera, Regions I, II and III.

In an interview with Rona Mae Bautista of DOST-Apayao, she said that they presented three products. However, one product which is the Vacuum Fried Mushroom failed to make it to the top 10.

He said that the products were developed by DOST Apayao Provincial S&T Center in collaboration with DOST SETUP (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program) adoptor Jannah’s Food Store of Sta. Marcela owned by Ms. Gina Palustre.

How did they end up presenting the products?

According to Bautista, who is a chemical engineer by profession, they started conceptualizing their products on February, initially with the Vacuum Fried Bamboo Shoot. But due to insufficiency of raw materials, they ended up doing the Vacuum Fried Mixed Vegetable and Fruits chips instead.

“Upon deliberation with PSTD Manangkil with careful consideration po sa mga agricultural products and farmers ng Apayao, nagdecide po kami na Vacuum Fried Mixed Vegetable and Fruits ang magiging final concept namin and nasubmit naman bago mag-end ang February,” she narrated.

On March, they started producing the needed documents to include their business plan, but encountered a challenge on how to create the product prototype considering that the Food Innovation Center is located at Benguet, which is considerably distant from Apayao.

“…kaya po namin naisip makipartner sa project na ito kay Ms. Gina Palustre, owner ng Jannah's Food Store and assisted firm po ng DOST thru SETUP project dahil siya lang din ang nag-iisang may Vacuum Frying Machine na nasa Apayao na mismo,” Bautista stated.

As to the production of the prototype, the team led by Bautista and PSTD Debbie Manangkil started it on April until May 9.

Said process includes the preparation of packaging and labelling materials, procurement of materials, and production.

Other products included in the Top 10

In the said Cluster Fair Marketing Academy, the – the Chica Matis (Tomato Chicharon) product of Cagayan State University was hailed as the Top 1.

Other products that topped the fair include the ToMango (tomato and Mango) Juice of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), the Hayahay Lamb Tomato Sauce of Hayahay AC Farrm in Bulacan and the Squashious Pesto of Pangasinan State University (PSU), Mango Choco Powder Mix, Mango – Kamangeg Sinigang Mix and Tomato – Mango Ketchup of MMSU and the Tomato Salsa of PSU.

These products, alongside the winning products of DOST- CAR will also received cash prizes.

In a statement, DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho Mabborang said that the event generally aims to help food innovators improve their product and its marketability to meet commercial consumption standards.

“What we are showcasing here are not only ordinary products, but those with locally sourced raw materials with innovations and have potential to be marketed in the mainstream market. The challenge right now is that FICs are producing many products but only few are landing on the mainstream market,” he stated.

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