Victorias City, known as The Sweet Green City, located in the northern part of Negros Occidental, Philippines, is strengthening its organic farming industry with the recent opening of its Organic Market and Pasalubong Center.
The local government believes that when it goes organic, it supports:
O – Okay for you
R – Restores ecological balance
G – Good quality food
A – Anti-cancer/anti-aging
N – Naturally produced
I – Improves quality of life
C – Chemical-free
Leading the inauguration of the new building is Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca. Also present were Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Nanjo City Mayor Keishun Kodja, and Victorias City Vice Mayor Jerry “Didi” Jover along with other city councilors.
The center houses a market, souvenir shop, and café that sell organic and local products only. This infrastructure hopes to support local organic farmers associations:
- BRAVO – Barangay Agri-tech Volunteer Organization
- VISFFA – Victorias Integrated Social Forestry Farmers’ Association
- MOVIA – Minoro Organic Village Association
- SAFA – Salome Farmers Association
- VOFA – Victorias Farmers Association
Victorias City is also promoting its farm tourism sites as it hopes to develop Agri-Eco Tourism with the help of Nanjo City, Okinawa, JICA, and NPO Lequiowings. Among the farms, I have been to Peñalosa Farm (READ: First-time in Peñalosa Farms) but there are more that needs to be seen, such as Tony Buison’s Farm, SAFA Organic Rice Field, Magda Farm, ATI Learning, BRAVO’s Organic Saluyot Garden, MOVIA-ATI Learning Site, Valdezco Farm, Nisol’s Nature Park, and VOFA site.
The opening was festive. Representatives from Nanjo City performed an Okinawan Dance. Victorias City official mascot, Tori, also wowed the crowd. Vegetables, fruits, dried goods, live plants, fruit juices, mushrooms, and other organic products were on display. Good thing I brought along my canvas bag as I did my own shopping.
I hope that more organic markets will be developed in other towns and cities around Negros Occidental. With the propagation of organic farms in the province, we are nearing our goal to be a leading organic province in the Philippines.
There’s always something in an organic products and topic that drove me to read it. I always find it interesting and beneficial, especially on a lifestyle that some of us are having in this generation. I didn’t even know that there’s a black rice not until i came across to your blog. I’ll surely check this Pasalubong Center when I get back to Negros. I didn’t know that you’re also a PTB member. Hehehe Nice meeting you Claire.
LaiAriel
I’m more active in the Negros Bloggers since I moved back here two years ago. 🙂 Do let me know when you’re back in Bacolod so that you can meet our group. 🙂 Nice to meet you online!
What a wonderful initiative! it has become so, so important to be eat healthy and free of all kinds of chemical. I wish more initiatives like this are created which promote healthy eating and plus an opportunity for farmers to find more paying work!
Interesting photo about that Okinawan dance. That should have made this into one interesting event. Good that the guests from Japan exerted extra effort to share their culture.
Organic items would make excellent pasalubongs. It’s nice that you can now find it all in one place.
Your post reminds of one organic farm that I recently visited. Organic food indeed tastes better than the usual food. I have started buying at least a few things organic now.
Waaah!! Every time I visit your blog, I feel more and more nostalgic about Negros! I don’t think this organic place was there yet when I lived in Dumaguete last year or maybe I was just cooped up in bed most of the time because of my pregnancy. But with your Negros blog posts, the more I am raring to come back. Thanks for sharing! Will definitely share this to my bebe Hanz so he knows too. 🙂
Good to see more and more people aware of the importance of organic foods and products and promoting them! Hope this center will be a success and slowly branch out to more places!
Nice to see more and more people realizing the need to go organic & earth friendly. Its the nees of the hour worldwide.
We need organic markets like this in Manila too! Everything looks so fresh and lovely 😀
This is a great initiative and I hope more people would support this. Hoping all the best to Victorias Organic Market and Pasalubong Center!
such a great place to be at. there needs to be more places like these everywhere
Wow, I want to visit this place. I haven’t been in an organic center before, I really want to go there!
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