QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Department of Agriculture advised fellow Filipinos to buy round, mostly local fruits as “lucky food”, as the department has renewed its call on consumers to patronize locally-grown circular fruits this Christmas and New Year.
According to Quezon-grown Secretary Proceso “Procy” Alcala, “By buying fruits that are planted, cultivated, harvested and sold locally, we help our own farmers earn more from their hardwork, and at the same time, encourage more production of these commodities.”
“After all, locally-grown round fruits abound, and they are as good, if not better, than the imported ones in terms of taste and nutritional value,” he added.
With each fruit representing a month in the calendar, Filipinos would usually display 12 pieces of round fruits during the Media Noche, or the New Year’s eve midnight feast that symbolizes their hopes and aspirations for the next 365 days.
The DA suggested its top 12 “lucky fruits” as follows: rambutan, guyabano, atis, caimito, coconut, lanzones, bayabas (guavas), mabolo, dalandan (native oranges), pineapple, melon and chico. And the list doesn’t end there, as consumers may also opt for so-called Davao fruits such as pomelo and mangosteen. For those who love exotic fruits, they may try and appreciate indigenous fruits such sapinit dubbed as the “Pinoy wild raspberry.”
Lucky charm or not, DA has been advocating increased consumption of fruits, along with vegetables, to improve the nutritional condition of both Filipino adults and children. Latest available nutritional data indicated that Filipinos have been eating fewer vegetables and fruits from 1978 to 2008, with average per capita consumption of vegetables at 110 grams (down from 145 grams in 1978), and fruits at 54g of fruits (from 104 grams in 1978.)
Released in December 2012 by the National Statistical Coordination Board, the survey also suggested that the country’s consumption of vegetables and fruits was among the lowest in Asia. The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 400 grams of vegetables and fruits per person (150 kilograms per year) to help prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, obesity and other so-called lifestyle diseases.
