CITEM recognizes best of Philippines food exports

MANILA, Philippines — The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) has recognized the best of the country’s food exports.

It recently announced the winners of the 2024 Katha Awards for Food in a press briefing dubbed the “Big Taste Reveal: IFEX Philippines 2024 Media Salu-Salo and Katha Awards for Food Presentation.”

Recognized as a seal of Philippine food innovation and creativity, Katha Awards for Food seeks to challenge food entrepreneurs across the country to foster a culture of excellence in developing new export products.

In her remarks, CITEM deputy executive director and officer-in-charge Ma. Lourdes Mediran underscored the vital role that Katha Awards for Food has been playing since it was launched in 2015.

“Katha Awards has been a hallmark of Philippine creativity through the recognition of fresh and innovative food products and applications. It seeks to inspire courage among food entrepreneurs to explore galleries of flavors and work on new, untried ideas,” Mediran said.

Likewise, Mediran said that CITEM, the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry has undertaken rigid measures to determine the most outstanding products among the nominees.

“These export-quality products are held to certain standards that CITEM has put in place for several years. Out of 79 products submitted for evaluation, 21 made it to the final screening and only nine (emerged as the creme dela creme, meticulously selected by luminaries who are all well-respected within the food community,” Mediran added.