Clean, green and safe produce from Australia

Why should we opt to buy Australian produce?

“Australian products are clean, green and safe,” declares Australian ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell with certainty. “Clean, because we have a pristine growing environment for our livestock and produce. A clean environment ensures that only the freshest and best quality products are produced.  ‘Green’ because Australian companies utilize growing and production processes that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. ‘Safe,’ because Australia’s food production processes have high levels of regulatory supervision and strict quality standards. We have food management and traceability systems in place.”

This was at the launch of “Market Australia!” — a food and beverage promotion, where the Australian Embassy partnered with Metro Retails Stores Group in a “food and beverage festival that highlights the quality, range and diversity of Australian products that are available in the Philippines.”

Running until April 6 in six Metro Supermarket branches (Market! Market! in Taguig City, Alabang Town Center, Marquee Mall in Pampanga, Ayala Center in Cebu, Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, and Super Metro at the District Northpoint in Talisay City, Negros Occidental), Market Australia! seeks to heighten awareness and appreciation for Australian food and beverages. 

Through in-store educational product boards on the various types of Australian wine, cheese, meat and fresh produce, as well as food-tasting activities that will give shoppers a chance to sample some of the products, shoppers are encouraged to prepare meals using the superior Australian items in their homes. In addition, eligible shoppers can win Australian food items, Australian cheese booklets and beef and lamb recipe cards through a Pick-a-Prize Promo.

“Metro Supermarket boasts the widest selections of food and beverages from Australia, the land down under,” said Metro Retail Stores Group president and COO Eduardo Ponce at the opening ceremony of Market Australia! “One of the core values of the Metro Retails Stores Group is forging and strengthening alliances with its business partners. We are gratified to have forged this partnership with the Australian Embassy Manila to showcase exceptional Australian products. We look forward to a continued relationship in promoting and exploring new products from Australia so that our customers have an opportunity to enjoy these. We invite all to enjoy the gastronomic delights available at Metro Supermarket.”

While tasty hors d’oeuvres using Australian produce were being served after the opening ceremonies of Market Australia! at Metro Supermarket in Alabang Town Center, we took the opportunity to peruse the shelves of Australian produce. Among our noteworthy finds are the following:

• Australian lamb and beef – Lamb and beef from Australia have always been the top choice in our household because we trust that they are free from biological and chemical contaminants. Strict quality-control standards ensure that the animals are disease-free, so that during the time when the meat-eating world was concerned about the incidence of Mad Cow disease, Australian meat was unaffected. The high level of biosecurity measures taken for meat products is an assurance that these are not only tasty; they are also safe.

• Australian wines – While the wine industry of Australia is relatively young compared to its European counterparts, the country is currently one of the biggest exporters of wine (especially varietals that are relatively inexpensive but have the intense flavor of the grapes from which they are made). The country’s winemaking regions are mainly in southern states such as Victoria, and the southern areas in South Australia, Western Australia and cooler parts of New South Wales.

• Australian table grapes – It goes without saying that a country that is known for its wine also grows exceptional grapes for the table. Australian grapes are sweet because they are picked at just the right time and are kept in ideal storage conditions so that they retain their freshness.    

• Australian cheeses – We are advised, “Remember the three “R”s when selecting Australian cheeses. When a cheese is Ripe and at Room Temperature, it’s Ready to serve.” The types of cheese available at Metro Supermarkets are Australian washed rind cheese (with a strong-smelling outer rind and a surprisingly sweet taste); Australian fresh unripened cheese (cottage cheese, creamed cottage cheese, cream cheese, ricotta, Neufchatel, feta, mascarpone, quark and Stracchino); Australian blue cheese (blue Brie, gorgonzola-style blue, Danish-style blue); Australian stretched curd cheese (mozzarella, pizza cheese, Bocconcini and Haloumi)and Australian hard cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, Pepato and Pecorino).  Australian cheddar style and white mold cheeses are also available.

• Australian summer stone fruits – Plums, peaches and nectarines are delicious both fresh and dried. They are good as a healthy alternative for snacking, can be added to salads or desserts, and are delicious when served with a cheese platter.

We appreciated the fact that the excellent products are reasonably priced, the items were neatly organized so that they could be located easily, and the supermarket staff was helpful and pleasant.  

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For more information on Market Australia, contact Austrade Manila at manila@austrade.gov.au.