Thorin Oakenshield, the fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, imparted a valuable lesson to his fellow dwarves: “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
Tolkien could very well have been inspired by New Zealand where, incidentally, real-life “Shire” houses dedicated to Hobbit characters Bilbo and Frodo Baggins can be found.
As a country with long growing seasons and endless fields, it is not surprising that the food and beverage sector remains the lynchpin of New Zealand’s economy. It employs nearly one in five New Zealand workers, and accounts for more than half of the country’s export earnings.
“We export about 75 percent of what we produce. This is the reason why take care of the quality of our food and beverage exports. If we have a problem – even a small one – we will have significant economic fallout. That becomes the guarantee that the food and beverage products from New Zealand that you are getting are premium products,” said Hernando Banal, New Zealand Trade commissioner to the Philippines, during the recently concluded one-day Food Connection Manila trade show.
The trade show featured products from 11 top companies in New Zealand, including award-winning wines from Babich Wine and Brumms Quality Wines, naturally-harvested Greenshell Mussels from Kono, and quality chocolates from Whittaker’s, to name a few.
“New Zealand takes pride in its reputation as a trusted food supplier, thus we make sure that every food product that comes out of New Zealand undergoes the strictest food safety and biosecurity measures,” Hernando said.
Biosecurity controls are strong enough, in fact, such that New Zealand has recognized status as an “animal disease-free” exporter by the World Organization for Animal Health. And it’s naturally fertile environment, moderate climate, geographical location and features, and clean air also make it ideal for almost every kind of food production, from horticulture and cropping to seafood and farming.
In the Philippines, New Zealand’s largest exports are predominantly dairy products, but in recent years, wine, confectionaries, healthy and natural beverages, and meat have also shown robust growth.
New Zealand leads the world in sustainably produced seasonal foods, guided by the food producers’ integrity and respect for the environment passed on by generations of farmers, fishers, and growers. The country’s livestock are predominantly raised on pasture in open fields, and grass-fed free-range meat is a sought-after premium food in international markets.
“We know that Filipinos today are looking for convenient food that not only caters to their increasingly busy lifestyle but are also healthy, safe, and delicious. New Zealand products bring to the table these criteria for sustainability and organic production,” added Hernando.
Kiwi-Pinoy celebrity chef Leo Fernandez, who placed second in the 2015 MasterChef New Zealand, attests to the premium food and beverage products that the country has to offer.
“The products are premium and sustainable. Mauri people have the utmost respect for land and sea,” said Fernandez, who opened his own Filipino fusion restaurant, Azon, in Parnell, Auckland.
Fernandez whipped up classic Filipino dishes using ingredients renowned from New Zealand during the trade show, such as New Zealand Greenshell Mussel kinilaw, corned beef hash rice croquettes with caldereta sauce, and the his specialty, Ultimate Mango Float.
“I love the quality of the products from New Zealand and I am on a mission to make Filipino cuisine famous in New Zealand,” he added.
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