Food Bowl Night Market opens at Eton Centris

MANILA, Philippines - A new food market featuring healthy fresh produce and products has just opened in the northern part of Metro Manila.

The Food Bowl was formally launched on Friday, March 18 at the Eton Centris Walk on EDSA corner Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

Vegetables, grains, animal and fish products good for one's health are sold at the market which is open every Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Organizers describe the Food Bowl Night Market as "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," said Sharon Tan, co-organizer of the Food Bowl Night Market.

Among the groups participating in the market are: Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA), One Organic Movement of the Philippines with the Agri-Aqua Network International, Inc. (AANI), Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya, Inc. (SIBAT) Peoples' Store, Go Organic Philippines, Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organizations (INOFO), and the Philippine Development Assistance Program, Inc. (PDAP).

They are joined by Kasama Ka Organik Cooperative, Aquarius Agricultural Source Corporation (AASCORP), Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikutura (MASIPAG), Philippine Natural Farming, Inc. (PNFI), Organic na Negros Organic Producers and Retailers Association (ONOPRA), Agrikultura Natural, Inc. (ANI) Mo, Cosmic Farm of Benguet State University in 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 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'," added Tan.

Aside from natural, organic and biodynamic farm produce, the market will also have booths for food operators, wellness organizations, ornamental and herbs producers, and eco-friendly product manufacturers.