CAPIZ — The Province of Capiz hosted its first-ever three-day Slow Food Pop-up Earth Market, bringing together small-scale farmers, food producers, artisans and community groups from across Panay Island.
Held from September 10 to 12 at The Plant Farm in Pueblo de Panay, the event promoted sustainable agriculture, local biodiversity and the preservation of regional culinary heritage.
Organized by the Slow Food Community Capiz, the initiative sought to connect small-scale producers directly with consumers while advancing the Slow Food movement’s principles of food that is “good, clean and fair.”
The Provincial Government of Capiz co-sponsored and participated in the event through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office and the Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village.
Representing Gov. Fredenil H. Castro, Provincial Information Officer and concurrent Provincial Human Resource Management Office head Atty. Luvim D. Amores delivered the opening address.
Amores reaffirmed the provincial administration’s support for local farmers, sustainable gastronomy and community-led ecological initiatives.
She emphasized that strengthening food security and preserving indigenous foodways remain among the province’s priorities.
Panay procedures
The Earth Market served as a convergence platform for micro-enterprises, smallholder farmers, food artisans, rural cooperatives and community groups from Capiz, Iloilo and Aklan.
The event allowed producers from different parts of Panay to showcase their products while promoting regional economic cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
Among the products offered were organically grown vegetables, seasonal fruits, sustainably harvested wild honey and fresh local seafood.
The market also featured specialty food products, including creative laing pizza, value-added coconut products, native delicacies, single-origin regional coffee, locally produced chocolates and freshly baked artisanal goods.
Traditional crafts and textiles were likewise showcased, including handcrafted home items, Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana attire made from natural abaca fiber.
Organizers said bringing rural food producers to a prominent commercial venue such as Pueblo de Panay provided them with greater market access while giving consumers an opportunity to learn about biodiversity, sustainable food production and heritage conservation.
The three-day event also highlighted growing interest in locally sourced and sustainably produced food and products in Western Visayas, with organizers hoping it would pave the way for future Earth Markets and other eco-friendly trade initiatives in the region./PN
