The Organic Movers

The mid-nineties became the gateway to healthier food choices for the Philippines due to the birth of certified groups promoting organic agriculture and processing. From the first organic market in the old United Supermarket in old Greenbelt, which was the first in the Philippines, the trend has now sprouted in urban areas. A few have remained loyal and enthusiastic to the cause, offering healthy options and environmental awareness to both purist and curious customers. Asia Tatler Dining Philippines highlights two verified suppliers who have greatly contributed to Makati City's open weekend community markets in Legaspi and Salcedo.

GIL CARANDANG of HERBANA FARMS

An advocate, teacher, and farmer with an academic background in sustainable food system, Gil Carandang has always been a big name in the organic farming industry. Herbana Farms, a hub and training centre that specialises in natural and organic farming, reflects Carandang's life and business direction: to promote sustainable agriculture technology.

Having Salcedo Community Market as the primary venue for selling, Carandang gained the metro's trust in providing rich and natural produce because of his in-depth experience in the creation of food for the next generation. "In organic farming, one basic ideal concept is the soil. It is taking care of the land to make the land produce food in perpetuity. We [in Herbana Farms] grow the soil and we create a living soil. Then, the living soil produces a healthy plant," Carandang says. He also emphasizes that organic farming is the only way to survive in this planet, given the temporary benefits obtained from the proliferation of strong and bad chemicals used today.

The four-hectare land of Herbana Farms in Barangay Burol, Calamba, Laguna, brings a well-produced range of salad greens, exotic vegetables, free-range chickens, and natural pork. Carandang also formulates cultured microbial inoculants, agricultural amendments used for nourishing soils and plants for better growth to help organic farming enthusiasts.
Herbana Farms is destined to continue its life-long advocacy with Carandang's leadership. Tatler Dining is excited to see the movement flourish with Carandang's fatherhood of Organic Farming.

Salcedo Community Market
Saturdays, 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
Jaime Velasquez Park, Salcedo St, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City

MARA PARDO DE TAVERA of MARA'S ORIGINAL MARKET

Renowned as the very first organiser of an open community market and acclaimed as the mother of Philippine organic market, Mara Pardo de Tavera is very much hands-on in her extended office at the Legaspi Sunday Market. Previously founded as Mara's Organic Market 19 years ago, it now holds the name Mara's Original Market (MOM), offering a wider array of items.

"Better choices" of natural food, lifestyle goods, crafts, and home-cleaning products are available in MOM. Showcasing various labels, MOM is a one-stop shop for everything traditional, organic, natural, and artisanal. A friendly vibe also comes out from the smiles of the booth vendors who happen to be both owners and organic advocates themselves. De Tavera says that MOM has introduced different brands to the mainstream crowd and has become a stepping stone for small-scale entrepreneurs in reaching a larger market.

De Tavera sets MOM as a united group of natural and organic products that invites every person to save her so-called first environment. "We should save the first environment, where food is the direct result of our environment. We need a brainwash to something positive. And that is towards food and the products we consume. As a nation, we are one of the highest in heart disease, cancer, intestinal problem, and diabetes, and this indicates our diet. Diet is a major contribution to saving the environment. Because if you are eating something organic, then you are saving your environment and yourself," she says.

Legaspi Sunday Market
Sundays, 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
Herrera St corner Legaspi St, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City