PH natural products to be in big U.S. East Coast trade show

WASHINGTON, DC — Rising demand for natural and organic products in the United States is creating a growing market for Philippine agricultural products.

Nine Philippine companies will be joining the Natural Products Expo East from September 17 to 19, the largest natural, organic and healthy products event on the U.S. East Coast, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland.

A variety of Philippine coconut products will be available to the American public, such as coconut water, milk, milk powder, flour, cider vinegar, coconut nutraceutical products, desiccated coconut, coconut sugar, organic extra virgin coconut oil and virgin coconut oil beauty pearls.

Other Philippine items to be featured in the trade show are body products made from pili, handcrafted bath soaps, topical scalp products, vinegar, dried mangoes, noodles, juices and fruit juice drinks, camote (sweet potato) and banana chips, condiments and sauces.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) through the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) organized the following natural product exporters to participate in this event—Brandexports Philippines, Inc., Elemie Naturals Inc., GreenLife Coconut Products Philippines Inc., Nutramedica, Inc., Orich International Traders, Inc., Prime Fruits International, Incorporated, Sweet Pacific Foodfarms Product, Team Asia Corporation, and Tropicana Food Products Inc.

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. expressed optimism in the growing share of the Philippines in the natural products market and encouraged US buyers to take advantage of the growing demand for such products.

“The Philippines has long been producing natural, organic and healthy agricultural products as well as nutritionally dense foods considered ‘superfoods’ abroad. The Natural Products Expo East is the perfect venue for sellers to bring their products to the attention of the U.S. buyers. I hope more Philippine businesses will follow soon,” said Cuisia.

The envoy added, “With more and more people becoming health conscious, there is definitely a growing market for natural and healthier alternatives. I encourage both Filipino and American-owned businesses to consider using and retailing Philippine products.”

U.S. nationwide sales of all natural and organic products jumped 9 percent to nearly $99 billion last year, according to the 2014 Market Overview of Natural Foods Merchandiser, a leading media source and information provider for the healthy products industry.

“More retail buyers are walking the show floor at Expo East than ever before, looking for the newest quality products to bring back to their stores,” Philippine Agriculture Attaché to the U.S. Dr. Josyline C. Javelosa, said.

The trade show will reportedly bring over 22,000 attendees and more than 1,800 exhibitors, with approximately 30 percent of those exhibiting for the first time and new to the marketplace, according to Natural Product Expo East.

This year, the expo will include for the first time a Farm-to-Market Tour where attendees will have the opportunity to visit some of Baltimore’s nearby farms and retail stores that source from them.

The Office of the Agriculture Attaché in Washington DC is inviting buyers to visit the Philippine Pavilion (Booth Nos. 9108-9113) at the Baltimore Convention Center. For meeting requests with participating Philippine companies email [email protected].

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