The Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH) continues to uplift enterprises in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector through enterprise development activities. In its latest effort, the hub organized a one-day training session for the Association of Safe Fruit and Vegetable Growers in Los Baños, Laguna (ASFVG-LB). It focused on processing saba bananas into value-added products such as banana chips and banana in syrup.
The training was conducted to address one of the major concerns of the association regarding banana production — managing unsold produce. Through the assistance of AABH, the group established a supply arrangement with Kitchen City, a food solutions provider based in Taguig City, Metro Manila. Kitchen City purchases extra-large unripe and semi-ripe saba bananas. However, smaller and overripe bananas often remain unsold, resulting in waste and spoilage.
Held at the Food Innovation Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) on September 11, 2024, the training focused on developing value-added products from unsold and overripe bananas. It was spearheaded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), through the AABH, in partnership with the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) of UPLB.
Facilitated by IFST, the training equipped farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage excess and unmarketable produce. By transforming these into products with longer shelf lives, farmers can maximize their harvest and generate additional income. ASFVG-LB, especially its women members, are now able to process their unmarketable surplus into value-added products even at home.
Banana in syrup processing hands-on session. (Image credit: Maria Alexia R. Belarmino, SERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Eleven members of ASFVG-LB and a representative from the Municipal Agriculture Office of the Los Baños Local Government Unit (LGU) participated in the activity. IFST University Researchers – Dr. Joel P. Rivadeneira, RCh, PFT, and Ms. Merly T. Panganiban MSc, PFT – served as resource persons during the training.
Lectures on basic food safety and processing with hands-on training on the step-by-step processing of bananas into value-added products were conducted. These included wearing of personal protective equipment (e.g. hair caps, aprons); sanitizing the production area and kitchen tools such as knives and chopping boards; washing and cooking the produce; and selecting the appropriate packaging materials.
Techniques for achieving optimal product quality such as maintaining appropriate temperatures, recommended cooking times, and ingredient ratios were also discussed and demonstrated.
The products could be available in their physical stores in front of Los Baños Municipal Hall every Tuesday and Friday, at the KADIWA market on the last Friday of each month, and through their online platform, LB Veggie Move at lbveggiemove.com, in the near future.
“Marami akong natutunan sa sanitation. Ngayon lang nadagdagan ang kaalaman ko sa proper ways sa pagsa-sanitize ng paglulutuan. Kasi kalimitan sa mga nanay na kagaya ko nagagawa ang mga bagay na walang sanitation minsan sa sobrang pagmamadali. Very thankful po ako kasi pwede ko siyang gamitin. Ito po talaga ang target ko dito, mag-create ako ng small business. Hindi lang po basta ako natuto, magkaka-negosyo rin ako. Thank you po!” said Ms. Gemma Delos Reyes, a participant from ASFVG-LB.