As part of the efforts of the Philippine Cacao Industry Development Council to uplift the country’s cacao industry, several cacao growers in the country will be sending their entries to the biennial International Cocoa Awards in Paris, France.
These are Puentespina Farm, Kennemer Foods, Chokolate de San Isidro, Filipinas Oro de Cacao and KVT Farm, all from Davao Region.
PCIDC President Valente Turtur said in a media forum at Habi at Kape, Abreeza Mall, Davao City that this is the first time Philippines was invited to participate in the competition.
“Two weeks ago I was invited by Brigitte Laliberté, a scientist from Biodiversity International. This Biodiversity International (is) the organizing body of the 2017 edition of International Cocoa Awards,” he said.
The International Cocoa Awards – Cocoa of Excellence program is the only event in the world celebrating the work of planters and the richness of expression of cocoa. This initiative spreadheaded by Bioversity International and the Salon du Chocolat helps further mutual awareness and reinforce collaborations between producers and chocolate makers.
This programme aims to reward producers of high-quality cocoa, facilitate links between producers and chocolate makers and reveal the diversity and richness of the origins of cocoa.
“Once you are chosen as the winner of this contest, you will be known in the whole world to have a quality of cacao,” said Turtur.
According to the PCIDC president, participants are required to submit at least five kilograms of fermented beans from five different producers which will then be examined by PCIDC which serves as the National Organizing Committee for the Philippines.
Among the samples, 50 will be chosen to be processed into chocolate mini-bars and displayed in the Cocoa of Excellence lounge.
Considering time constraints for the preparation, Turtur hopes that the Philippine entries will make it to the deadline set on February 28, 2017.
“If we’re lucky enough, we also plan to go there to receive the award,” said Turtur.
The International Cocoa Awards winners will be announced and celebrated at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris held between the 28th of October and the 1st of November 2017.
