Go Negosyo introduces vegetable-based noodles

IN A BID to minimize spoilage of vegetables and provide additional
livelihood and income opportunities to farmers, Go Negosyo and the
Benguet State University collaborated to develop a vegetable-based
canton noodles and make them commercially available.

Yesterday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched canton noodles
made from vegetables that would otherwise have gone to waste. The
launching was held at the Dagonoy Public Market in San Andres, Manila.

The President, in her Monday’s State of the Nation Address, extolled Go
Negosyo for partnering with government programs to “unleash the
entrepreneurial spirit” and provide mentorship to aspiring
entrepreneurs. The President reiterated her message and likewise
expressed gratitude to all those who worked behind the success of Proud
Harvest.

Proud Harvest, a squash-based canton noodle, is one of the many
products launched in order to simultaneously address high crop wastage
and the increasing prices of food commodities.  

In a study conducted by BSU, forty-five per cent (45%) of root crops
and high-yielding vegetables from the Benguet region are thrown away,
either due to mishandling and spoilage or due to low demand for certain
varieties, such as squash.

Now with Proud Harvest, spoilage will be minimized while at the same
time giving additional income to farmers. Also, this helps BSU to
increase its revenue generation to augment its income as a state
university.  

Proud Harvest will be distributed in the Tindahan Natin and in the
local market.  This project seeks to create more demand for vegetables
as inputs to consumer products, and this value adding efforts will help
reduce the spoilage levels for raw vegetable produce.

Proud Harvest is a collaboration between BSU, the Go Negosyo under the
leadership of Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey
Concepcion, and with the support of the Inter-Agency (IAG) Committee
formed by Secretary Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management
Staff.  

Private companies also joined the project in providing not only the
needed financial resources and production capacities, but also the
business mentorship and expertise in brand-building. Food and beverage
company RFM Corporation is facilitating the manufacturing, marketing
and distribution of Proud Harvest nationwide.   

Aside from RFM, Liwayway Marketing Corp and Nissin Monde Corporation
were also tapped to develop their respective vegetable-based snack and
instant noodle products.

“This project manifests a strong government and private sector
partnership that directly assists an institution and communities in
running and growing their business operations,” said Joey Concepcion.  

Proud Harvest, which started only four months ago, was the result of
the entire group’s concerted effort including the Department of Science
and Technology-Food Nutrition Research Institute, Office of the
President, Province of Benguet, Department of Agriculture, Department
of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development and
National Food Authority.

 

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