PCAARRD Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Rebecca Tubongbanua shared mango processing and trading trends in one of the fora of the Farms and Industry Encounters through Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) celebration of the Western Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVAARRDEC) held recently in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
Tubongbanua is a native of Guimaras, known for producing the world’s sweetest mango. She is a multi-awarded entrepreneur who has found a goldmine in using mangoes that did not pass export standards.
Fourteen years ago, she established the McNester Food Products and transformed the equally delicious and sweet rebuffed mangoes into different profitable products, which include catsup, sauce, polvoron, jam, puree, and many others.
Aside from Tubongbanua, Rhod S. Orquia of the Bureau of Plant Industry-Guimaras National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center tackled Good Agricultural Production (GAP) for mango production.
The WESVAARRDEC FIESTA also featured fora on three other research commodities of the consortium, namely, bamboo, darag or native chicken, and muscovado.
Themed “Advancing Science and Technology towards Inclusive Growth” or ASTIG, the FIESTA also had an exhibit-cum-trade fair, media forum, poster designing contest, quiz bee, and a darag cooking contest. The FIESTA is part of the month-long Tinuom Festival in Cabatuan.
The Tinuom Festival is a celebration of Cabatuan’s history and delicacy, the tinuom, a dish made of native chicken souped with spices, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, and lemon grass and wrapped in banana leaves.
PCAARRD initiated the FIESTA to promote agriculture, aquatic and natural resources S&T by showcasing the different region’s agricultural bounties and products.