Food Bowl Night Market at Centris Walk

Press release sent for Food Bowl Night Market: 

FOOD BOWL NIGHT MARKET: Safe & Healthy Food Choices Within Reach
 
Now, a marketplace for safe and healthy fresh produce and products made 
available to the public --- from vegetables to grains to animal and fish 
products. A marketplace that works on the concept of accessibility, 
sustainability, and fair trade practices to capture the bulk buying demand and 
promote sustainable lifestyle. 

 
“We have invited almost everyone in the organic and natural industry to join us 
in this endeavor. Big groups of organic and natural farming practitioners have 
signified their interest to support by joining the market: The Organic Producers 
Trade Association (OPTA), One Organic Movement of the Philippines with the 
Agri-Aqua Network International, Inc. (AANI), Go Organic Philippines, 
Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organizations (INOFO), Philippine 
Development Assistance Program, Inc. (PDAP), Kasama Ka Organik Cooperative, 
Aquarius Agricultural Source Corporation (AASCORP), Magsasaka at Siyentipiko 
para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikutura (MASIPAG), the natural farming advocates under 
the Philippine Natural Farming, Inc. (PNFI), Organic na Negros Organic Producers 
and Retailers Association (ONOPRA), biodynamic farms under the Agrikultura 
Natural, Inc. (ANI) Mo, Cosmic Farm of Benguet State University, La Trinidad, 
the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Department of Agrarian Reform 
(DAR) and the Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA-AMAS). The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of 
Tourism (DOT) were also tapped by the organizers to support through an 
information campaign to reach its target buyers" said Ms. Sharon Tan, 
co-organizer of the Food Bowl Night Market.       
 
"The potential for the organically grown produce and foods is growing both 
domestically and abroad due to the increasing health, environment and social 
concerns. Food Bowl Night Market will highlight crops and commodities of 
Philippine “SUSTAINABLE AGRIBUSINESS”. Its quality should also meet the demand 
for its quantity. The Crops, Commodities and Technologies Section will showcase 
farmers, fisherfolks and organizations providing safe and healthy food to 
Filipinos and present the value chain: production, processing and marketing. 
This will be a good start for the farmers to program their production to meet 
the requirements of institutional buyers especially from hospitals, restaurants, 
hotels and food caterers" she added.
 
Other than natural, organic and biodynamic farm produce which includes 
vegetables, fruits, rice, fisheries, live stock, native free ranged pastured 
poultry produce and products, Food Bowl Night Market will also feature food 
operators and wellness organizations, ornamental and herbs producers and the 
eco-friendly product manufacturers.  
 
The Food Bowl will be launched at the ETON Centris Walk, Quezon Avenue, Quezon 
City starting March 18. It will open every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 12mn. 
ETON Centris Walk is directly under the stop of the Quezon Avenue MRT Station 
with a commercially accessible area and ample parking for the target 
institutional buyers. 
 
The World Agape Association, Inc., with the owners of DS Pinoy Organic and 
Herbal Store organizes the Food Bowl Night Market. The World Agape Associationis 
a group of young professionals whose primary objective is to provide leadership 
seminars for public servants with focus on public school teachers and farmer 
leaders. 

Naturella Offers

As purveyors of what is best from natural farming practitioners, we are always on the look out for what is good and best at a given time.  Just like season changes and weather permits, there will be problems at source farms that may affect supplies' availability.

If you want something, please let us know and we will try best to bring it to you.  That will also be our opportunity to go further and farther :)  Please click "LIKE", and then leave a note at our FB page "A Naturella Farm Store" or drop us an email: info@solraya.com.  

DELIVERIES FOR A MINIMUM OF PHP1000.  WHAT WE HAVE NOW as of 22 February 2011.
For orders pls call/text (0917) 847-2639.
If you call/text in advance, you may pick up at 19 Lipa Rd, Philam Homes QC for no minimum orders.

FOOD

1) Sunshine Chicken (no antibiotics, no hormones, pastured chickens)
Dressed chickens PHP200/kg
Pure Liver Pate PHP300/tub
2) Pork from naturally farmed pigs.  PHP200/kg
3) Fresh Sweet Tuba (Coconut Nectar) PHP60/bottle

FARM INPUTS/SUPPLIES

1) Shredder/Chopper PHP45,000
2) Fermented Concoctions PHP100
3) Likasaka Manwal great book on the principles of natural farming.  PHP400
4) The Secret Is In The Soil beginner's guide to natural gardening. PHP300

Signs

The fairy is there.  Simple lines and self explanatory sign.  The look is whimsical?  Must be too much Facebook ads I see :)  

From now on, this will be the name we will be marketing.  Sunshine Chicken will be one of the products it will carry.

First stop:  AGRILINK 2010, World Trade Center.  Oct 7-9

Nice weekend market had been booked. Will post details.

Join us and LIKE "A Naturella Farm Store" in Facebook!

Naturella Steps

What was just a name last week has now developed naturally and will take first steps during AGRILINK 2010.

Natural farming and marketing takes the focus of our lives now.  Everything is falling into place as timing that the loyal clientele that Sunshine Chicken has developed, are also asking for other products that they know will be sourced dutifully for them.

Now A Naturella Farm Store will act as purveyors of  products from natural or organic farms.  You may pick-up from us or avail of our delivery service. Selected trade shows and weekend markets are being calendared.

Common Sense

Yesterday, during opening of 2nd Pinoy Organic Festival, one of the speakers was Jacqueline Alleje.

I was manning my booth, but it was just about 3 booths away from the seminar area, so my selective attention gets caught by Jacqui.

She is one person that can make you look up from what you are doing. Fresh, crisp, perky, dressed well....much like a good salad. She is Swiss by nationality, but embraced being a Filipino. Don't attempt to talk behind her back wehehehehhe...she may have baluktot Pilipino...but understands everything :)

On talking about organic farming, she went something like..."the farmer has doable scenarios and projects...and consumers have acceptable standards. When those two meet, then there is a deal".

Much later after the talk, I congratulated her for liking her speech. She asked in awe "Did you listen"? I have ears...didnt need to be seated there. She was amazed that I quoted her verbatim....led to her joining us for an enjoyable brunch.

Her muffins, my batchoy, and Doc Rey's fried fish. True to persona...she was eating healthy.

Yes, you can still seat together even if eat different things. Its the character that is the bottomline in groups.

Great Start

Today we thought was going to be a slow day, as we came to start the normal schedules for the weekend markets.

As I am typing this at 10:30, I know I will pack up by 12 noon. I don't know what made this a fast day. Did they want home cooked meals after the parties? They had been gifted and wanted to buy for their own now? They heard about it in social gatherings? All of the above :)

Doc Rey got two calls from two different radio stations for interview this morning. Both shows asked him to talk about what to expect for 2009 from Sunshine:

1) Naked necks from SASSO of France - sturdier and tastier line. The growers have asked for this line. We are now test hatching and may have it available end of January at the earliest.

2) Organika will get bigger - We will continue to source new and good natural products for you.

3) Nationwide - seminars and farm visits. Our commitment to sustainability is to teach and monitor.

4) Organikarts - Just toyed up with this yesterday. Make the Organika products readily available and convenient for most people. Carts....

Good to be up and about. Being available at the right time and proper places.

Think About The Gifts

As I was reading my online newspaper tonight, I came across Dreaming of a Green Christmas.
I always thought that one should give a give that they themselves would want to have :)

For about a week now, I had been emailing with a lady who asked me about the benefits of eating grass fed chickens, pricing, availability etc.

Today, she ordered more than an ordinary household would consume in one week. Why? She may have read my mind and advised me that she was giving some as gifts to her friends. She was actually gifting her friends and me too. For her friends, she wanted to give the gift of healthy and tasty chickens. And why did I say she was also gifting me? Because she said that if her friends liked it, they will contact me for their chickens :)

But she already gave me a good time for her emails are so straight and no corners.....she was so funny in her candidness.

ORGANIKA

Approved signage :)

Solraya's ORGANIKA

Yes, we got the name :)

Short, easy to recall..Like it?

Aircon had been installed, freezers stocked, we are in business...though waiting for the signs as we can't act without our DTI approval.

Solraya's ORGANIKA, Regaldo cor Quirino Hway, right across the Regalado entrance of SM Fairview.

Open 8am-6pm, daily. We are ready to serve the wholesale customers anytime of the day, for their convenience.

Thesis It

We are very supportive of students who have elected to use Sunshine Chickens for their studies.

Proud that Benguet State University have chosen us, when they encouraged some Vet Med students to make a study on experimental feedings for the manners that most farmers in highland conditions will apply.

This is how they look now on the range. Nice small cages...look like watch posts for chicken coops :)


Commercial feeds have been totally withdrawn after 21days, when they were started to be ranged.

They have become some sort of attraction as awareness for healthy eating is increasing in the region. BSU also decided to range them in the organic garden area :)

Sourcing

Solraya's ORGANIKA, Regalado cor Quirino Hway, right across the Regalado entrance of SM Fairview. Daily 9am-6pm.

As mentioned, we will only sell products that we ourselves use.

To date, 08 December 2009, this is what we have:

1) Of course our banner product, Sunshine Chicken
a. dressed PHP200/kg
b. adobo - home cooked, comfort food PHP150/pack
c. roasted, great for your soup stocks &/or pulled meat for salads and sandwhich fillings PHP150/pack
d. eggs from grass fed Sunshines PHP300/30s tray

2) Pork from pigs that are naturally grown - We are calling it HERBaboy. Brought to you from an alliance of two women, Jojie and Sandy. Jojie Lim from Davao, practices what Andry and she preaches in seminars, in their own farm. Since the pigs are fed fruits based juices and given plants for snacks, the name HERBaboy fits us :) PHP300/kg

3) Coconut products
a. sugar - may be used by diabetics. Has this very pleasing caramel flavor, not bitter. PHP100
b. vinegar - comes in plain and spiced variants PHP60

We will be adding selected products for you.

WE DELIVER to key Metro Manila areas.

Name That Store

I have already approved store signages, freezers delivered, stainless counters there, vacuum packer transferred to its new nook....

As I was filling out DTI etc....I sort of had a sudden change of heart in store names. I will try to switch it to a shorter and non tongue twister.

It took a long time before people can recall and even pronouce "Solraya"...I can't think why! This time, I will play it short name game....won't say it yet, as am not sure to get approval. I won't count the chicks till they are hatched :)

Today, my 3tonner gets delivered and if the universe loves me big, it gets intalled today. But I will understand if I get timed for tomorrow. Can't be too pushy, it was just ordered late Saturday.

One Morning

Does the title sound like I am here to write a novel? One Morning. Its actually the title of the morning TV show simulcast over Channels 4, 9, 13 and Radyo ng Bayan on radio. The hosts are Niki Jimenez, Bobby Yan, Clauding Trillo and JM Rodriguez.

Yesterday, at lunch, I got a call if we may guest on One Morning. When I was talking with Lorna, one of the producers, it wasn't apparent to them what the theme for today will be. I guess when we agreed to guest, that's the time the organic and clean up theme was conceptualized because the other guests said they were called later.

On the way to the NBN studios, as we were tuned in, I heard that the theme was now organic and cleaning up of the Pasig River.

As I was waiting for Doc Rey to park, I thought who the other guests may be. Guess who drives by and gets off? Lina Tan of the OPTA Cooperative. YES! She herself thought the same way and said she was glad she saw me.

As usual, I can't have photos of ourselves being interviewed, but I got pics from behind cameras.

They may do a photo shoot at our AANI Urban Farm site...that will be fun.

Peep

After they started work on my soon to open store, Organikasyon, this morning was my first time to peep.

Partitions in place. Walls have been painted, we are still awaiting delivery of our other stainless working tables, glass top freezers and air conditioning units.

You want to peep too?

I am pretty excited!

Last night, I approved store signages etc.....Hope to see you there :)

Natural Healing And Alternative Medicine

Last week we were exhibitors at a convention that focused on alternative medicine.

Totally different market than other trade shows we have joined. Consumers that really needed it were there. Doctors who prescribe clean food were there.

The questions were not how to raise Sunshines, but how it was raised :)

I myself tried this herbal tonic called St. Vincent's. Liked what it did to me the first night, so got several more bottles the next day.

The very good feedback we got, reminded me about the spot I had to check at Shangrila Mall.

Shangrila Mall

My quick morning errand to pick up a rotisserie for Santiago was derailed. There was only one staff and no one may carry the unit to my truck. Haayyyy..so sad that I can't drive back and meant to kill time at Shangrila. Really a bore...

Shhhhh...it isn't a bore to someone who has no time to shop :)

Last week I was at ATC....shucks, I can't remember that last time I was awed wehehehhe. Anyway, as I entered Shangrila, I remembered to check out a space being offered to me to set up a naturally grown/organic store.

Walked around both entrances from 11am when the mall opened. Had lunch nearby...walked around the site again.

At 1pm, got the call to pass by my rotisserie again.

Shangrila is one place I will go to. I like quiet places My favorite before was the old Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Rockwell and this mall.

Most people will discourage me about low traffic. But again, I want to get the attention of people like me.

Will see how the universe takes us here.

Unoy Rice

Upland rice is a premium for us. We like the nutty taste, the health benefits from being pesticide free, aromatic....slow development and patience does things :) They look healthy too..being pinkish, short and plump.

During meetings and trade shows, I get myself some for our use. When I was planning Organikasyon, I knew I wanted to have organic, naturally grown rice. The Kalinga lady is always pictured in my mind.

Last night, over dinner that Sen. Manny Villar hosted, good I saw my Kalinga lady! Of course she was meant to be there, as the Senator wanted inputs about Agriculture.

So tomorrow, at Market At The Hills....I have a new product. My Unoy Rice, harvested last month. We vacuumed packed it to keep freshness, and keep off the bugs.

How to cook: Use 1 cup Unoy with 2-3 cups water.

Designing And Fixing

New ventures always excite me. Designing, fixing, merchandising, opening new branches.

My new baby, Organikasyon is specially a cooing call, because it is not a new branch. Organikasyon is a new business, a spinoff. More than a spinoff, it is more like a bigger stem to our previous marketing efforts.

Early morning we peeped into the stall. Seeing what are the immediate repairs and planning layout for store. By noon, I was looking at freezers and airconditioning. Afternoon, Pol Rubia came to feel the outlet. Surely, AANI will be around. Evening saw us shopping around for stainless counters and sinks.

Good vibes actually! Bus/jeepney stop. Good parking. Across SM Fairview. Before I sleep, I will visualize the signboards. Great corner location, visible...am thinking about a building wrap :) Those signboard stickers that wrap around the walls!

We hope to open up soon. Will keep you posted.

ORGANIKASYON: Purveyors Of What Is Good For You... Focused on what I want and will use myself.

Opening Up A Store

First came the name: About 4weeks ago or so, the name ORGANIKASYON was toying up in my mind. From way back, I had a bond with PURVEYOR, so I used the tagline PURVEYORS OF WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU.

At that point, I just had labels printed, but nothing concrete yet. Except that products I opt to sell and carry will have my labels. Things and food I will want to use myself. That is my focus!

Two weeks back, I jumped on the opportunity of this corner space with parking, right across SM Fairview. Been very busy with shows, but now after AGRILINK 2008 over, I can sit and visualize my store.

Finally, my store. I can direct wholesale/retail clients to a store. We can serve them 24/7 for pick ups by the wholesalers. I can sell what I want to consume for myself. I can stay put and focus on my niche market :)

Am so excited to spruce up the place with my kind of interior designing. Shop for freezers. Best thing is plan ORGANIKASYON's merchandising.

Will keep you posted when we are ready to open our doors!

ORGANIKAS...

To be launched soon.

We have delivered our products in our new packagings.

The resellers love the simple, clean lines. The consumers have reordered after they have tried the naturally grown meat.