After its successful comeback last year, the Philippines’ leading and only all-Filipino food and beverage show returns to showcase larger and more diverse array of exhibitors showcasing Filipino flavors, trends, and innovations.

During the opening ceremony of the 16th Philippine Food Expo (PFE) on April 12, at the World Trade Center (Pasay), Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. underscored the importance of enhancing marketing access and linkages for food producers to critical market buyers, ensuring the availability and affordability of food.

“The event showcases who we truly are as a country and as a member of the ASEAN economic community. Marketing plays a pivotal role within the agricultural value chain and serves as a critical component in ensuring a sustainable and thriving agricultural sector. Marketing underscores the importance of the dynamics between suppliers and buyers in ensuring that food is always available, and in reach with our consumers,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.

Organized by the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (PhilFoodex) with the Department of Agriculture, this year’s PFE gathered  300 exhibitors composed from food manufacturing, cultivation, export, equipment, packaging, ingredients, additives, and allied services and industries.

The Expo, which will run until April 14, also  features exhibitors from different regions of the country and participants in the Young Farmers Challenge, harnessing the potential of youth and their innovative skills in shaping emerging industry trends. ### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)