CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The regional trade fair that spotlights the creative abundance of Northern Mindanao has once again opened to the public to showcase homegrown products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) all over the region.

Running for over 25 years now, the annual regional trade fair dubbed 'Kahimunan' (creations) highlights a gallery of local craftsmanship and highly competitive products from the abundant raw materials found in the five provinces of Northern Mindanao - Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte, as well as the Cagayan de Oro.

This year's Kahimunan features more than 50 MSME exhibitors and over 100 homegrown products ranging from coffee, cacao, wearables and homestyle, fashion accessories, bamboo, coconut, processed foods and nuts, and condiments and seasoning.

Regional Director Ermedio Abang of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10, the organizer of the event, said the trade fair helps MSMEs expand their market reach and promote their indigenous and innovative products.

"We aim to showcase the diverse products of Northern Mindanao through product exhibits and promotion to widen MSMEs market scope, advocate ‘buy local’ initiatives, and increase homegrown MSME brand awareness," he said.

Fostering innovation and product champions

Kahimunan also celebrates the groundbreaking technologies and innovative solutions of MSMEs highlighting the novelty, ingenuity, and excellence of product champions.

One of these products is the Pilipinut Trail Mix of Greenminds Inc. from Misamis Oriental which was hailed as the most innovative trail mix in the country. 

Greenminds Inc. emerged as the champion of the 1st National Processed Fruits and Nuts (PFN) Trail Mix Competition during the 2023 Hybrid National Food Fair held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Its trail mix, Pilipinut, contains a delightful blend of roasted peanuts, banana chips, coconut flakes, and cubes made from pop Adlai, cacao nibs, brown sugar, stingless bee honey, and pollen.

What is noteworthy about this product is that its ingredients are sourced from chemical-free farms of tribal communities of Northern Mindanao.

"Ok kaayo ni [Kahimunan trade fair] kay gakaexpose among products, especially kaning trail mix namo kay bag-o pa kaayo ni siya nga product. Avenue ni siya nga mapakita nga aduna mi bag-ong product and para matest pud namo kung mahalin ba gyud siya. Kini pud among products nga gikan sa mga community so mahimo pud siyang marketing tool para sa ilaha," said Lonalyn Sulatan of Greenminds Inc.

( This [Kahimunan trade fair] is very good because it exposes our products, especially our trail mix because it is a very new product. This is an avenue for us to show that we have a new product and for us to test if it will really sell. Our products also come from the communities so this can also be a marketing tool for them.)

Kahimunan likewise spotlighted the award-winning Finca de Garces from Bukidnon which secured first place in the northern Mindanao Coffee Quality Competition and bagged the Best Arabica Coffee category in the 2023 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition.

Pilipinut and Finca de Garces are just two of the many products displayed in the "Northern Mindanao Products to the World" booth, a special booth for award-winning and world-class creations. The booth also included abaca bags from Puyo Handicraft and other coffee beans from Bukidnon, among others.

Building brands thru DTI programs

MSMEs participating in the Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair are recipients of the various programs of the DTI. One of these is Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) program which aims to ensure increased income for coconut farmers and farm workers, alleviate their poverty, and achieve social equality and competitiveness. 

The program is implemented in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority. DTI's part is on the market research, assistance, and promotion aspect of the CFIDP to help coconut farmers transform their harvested coconuts into various innovative products. Among the coconut-based products exhibited at Kahimunan are spiced coconut vinegar, calamay, coconut drops, coco strips, coco savor seasoning, coconut sambal, coconut sap drink, coco sugar, and coconut nectar.

Other programs that had aided the participating MSMEs are the One Town, One Product (OTOP), Shared Service Facilities (SSF), Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for farmers and families covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, and the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) project which aims to intensify agro-enterprise development in rural farming areas.

Value-adding activities

In addition to the exhibit, tasting, and selling, Kahimunan also offers business-to-business matching where business entrepreneurs can connect with suppliers and sellers through the Board of Investments, Oro Chamber, and other industry partners.

Moreover, Oro Chamber also organized a two-day 7C Summit and Expo for industry leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts to gather and explore the potential of seven commodities crucial to the Philippine economy, namely, coffee, cacao, cashew, coconut, calamansi, corn, and cassava. 

Coffee enthusiasts can likewise enjoy the coffee cupping appreciation and coffee brewing competition on August 26.

One of the core activities for the Higalaay Festival celebration, the Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair will run until August 29, 2023. (APB/PIA-10)