Bicol Pili Nut @ Winter Fancy Food Show, USA, January 20-22, 2013

Bicol Region’s Pili Nut, one of the finest gifts of the Philippine tropics to the world, found its place at the most prestigious specialty food show in the USA. Five (5) companies producing pili nut snack food variants participated at the Winter Fancy Food Show (WFFS) in Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, last January 20-22, 2013. The WFFS 2013 broke records as the biggest specialty food promotional event with 1,300 exhibitors and and some 20,000 visitors from various countries.

Rising in market popularity, and offered by no other country in the world, our pili nut packs a punch in terms of taste, texture, versatility and nutritional value. Scientific studies conducted by the country’s institutions dedicated to pili (canarium ovatum) research have confirmed the nut’s impressive nutritional content – high in potassium, phosphorus and calcium.

Since then, the pili nut has rightfully been positioned as a premium nut, with its various snack product variants, like crispy, salted and roasted, among others under the regional brand: Chosen Pili. The pili nut snack products as specialty food are promoted as non-GMO,  naturally-grown, gluten-free, zero-grams trans fat, 100% natural, and no artificial ingredients used.

Judging from the very significant leads generated by our pili nut producers at Booth 2831 at the International Section of the specialty food show, our flagship commodity is now on its way to conquer niche markets in America and Canada.

Distributors, importers, food service establishments, special food retailers/ e-tailers, brokers and other exhibitors who came to the show found more surprises that only our pili nut can dish out.

After participating at the show, our pili nut producers anticipate that the expanding markets abroad will benefit the pili industry sector and redound to more socio-economic benefits for Bicol Region.

(Note: Participation at the WFFS is one of the components of the Pili Nut Trade and Business Mission to USA last January 17-27, 2013. The other components are: attendance to the Sustainable Foods Summit, Business Meetings with importers/ distributors, Pili Nut Forum at the Consulate, Factory and Merchandise Visits to selected mainstream outlets [Whole Foods, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Draeger’s]. The 10-day Mission was designed to sustain interaction and generate business deals with identified and potential US trade partners in mainstream and ethnic retail /institutional markets and pursue strategic networking with global and/or US players in food sustainability for DTI-Region 5’s continuing advocacy for its flagship commodity, the pili nut.)

The Pili Nut Trade & Business Mission to USA 2013 is a public-private partnership geared to sustain the primary goal of export business optimization for the Philippine pili nut as a premium nut, particularly in the US market. This initiative is a component of DTI-Region 5’s Food Business Development (BIZDEV) Program started in 2007 to position the Pili Nut in the US Market as a premium nut product.
Participation at the WFFS 2013 is a strategic collaboration between the OK Bikol Assn. (Pili Nut Group), DTI-Region 5 and the Philippine Trade & Investment Center (PTIC) in San Francisco, USA.

Exhibitors: Rosemarie Battung (Albay Pili Nut), Ryan Detera (Tia Berning Candies & Handicraft) and Lydia Lomibao (J. Emmanuel Pastries) are major players in DTI-Region 5’s Food Business Development (BIZDEV) Program since 2007.

Rosalie (PTIC-SV), RD Joy (DTI-5) Rose (consultant) discuss business with Greg (importer/distributor for USA/Canada)

Potential buyers try the Bicol Pili Nut thru the product tasting and sampling at Booth 2831.

The Bicol Delegation during the opening of the Winter Fancy Food Show in Moscone Center, San Francisco.

The Bicol Delegation at Booth 2831 with Rosalie & Mylene (PTIC-SV).

The Mission Participants at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.

Deputy Consul General Jaymon Ascalon, RD Joy Blanco and Trade Commissioner Mike Ignacio award Certificate to Winner Joy Sanchez of the Pili Nut Cook-off Contest.

Stakeholders on pili nut development pose for photos after the Pili Nut Forum held at the Philippine Consulate.

Benchmarking/ visit to Blue Diamond (almond) Growers in Sacramento, CA

Merchandise Visits to Selected Mainstream Outlets

Press Release_Asian Journal

Newspaper Article re Chosen Pili

More Press Releases

For more details on the pili nut, please click these links: The Pili Nut Story and

“Meet the Pili” on You Tube (produced by Living Asia Channel for DTI-Region 5).

Links to the Exhibitors (Participating Companies):

1. J. Emmanuel Pastries

2. Tia Berning’s Pili Candies and Handicraft

3. Albay Pilinut

4. C.O.P. Pili Sweets and Pastries

5. The R.A.I.N.S. Handicraft & Delicacies

Contact in USA:
MICHAEL ALFRED V. IGNACIO
TRADE COMMISSIONER

Silicon Valley Main Office:
4800 Great America Parkway, Suite 237
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA
Tel: (408) 980-9637/(415) 773-2336
Fax: (408) 980-9813

San Francisco Office:
Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco
447 Sutter Street, Suite 405
San Francisco, CA 94108
Tel: (415) 520-7247
Fax: (415) 773-1813

Email: siliconvalley@philippinetrade.org
Website: www.investphilippines.org/siliconvalley, www.philippinecentersf.com/trade

Contact in the Philippines:
JOCELYN LB. BLANCO
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Department of Trade and Industry-Region 5
3F Albay Capitol Annex, Legazpi City 4500
Albay, Philippines
Tel/Fax: (+6352) 480-5719

Email: ro@dti05.org

Blogs: Tradewinds Bicol, OK Bikol