| PGMA Launches Proud Harvest |
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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