The Cordillera Administrative Region is an administrative region in the Philippines, on the island of Luzon. Convenience stores and even gasoline stations there have become new outlets for Cordillera vegetables as demand rises in big cities reeling from prolonged quarantine.
Cordillera agriculture suffered huge losses when movements were restricted during the March to June lockdown. Still, farmers and food distributors have quickly recovered through direct marketing facilitated by the Department of Agriculture, says Cameron Odsey, the agency’s Cordillera director.
But cities in Metro Manila, which have a combined population of almost 13 million, require constant supplies of carrots, cabbages, lettuce, potatoes, and cauliflower grown in Benguet and Mountain Province, Odsey said. Cities have developed new ways of food distribution, Odsey said. He cited conglomerate San Miguel Corp. which turned some service stations of its affiliate, Petron Corp., into vegetable outlets in Metro Manila.
Farm cooperatives also help coordinate planting to prevent overproduction, Odsey said. Last week, cabbage prices dropped due to an oversupply.
Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net