ber months are here

Our island home in Western Visayas, Philippines celebrate our ber months in honor of our local harvests., Markets acclaim the toiling growers who provide generous bounty and fresh produce for our home fare and community feasts. 

Food is central here in this agricultural culture and our lives center around it. Negros Island is famous for all its special and quality delicacies. Homemade, locally sourced, organically grown, and caringly tended. 

Our annual farmers fair is a crowd drawer - which usually starts locally at the end of September, going on monthly until December. Participants come from outlying provinces, towns and barangays of Negros to trade their goods. 

Bringing their fresh produce and local heirloom treats which are processed in small batches and personally prepared from family recipes prized for generations as the best pasalubongs and personalized gifts. 

We also have the hugely popular Negros Trade Fair held annually in Manila. Himbon 2025 just celebrated their 39th anniversary on Sep 23 to 28 at SM Aura. It was their most successful - outdoing sales of the past years. Kudos and congratulations to organizers, participants, and their happily satisfied customers. 

This Nov 19 to 23, the Slow Food Negros community is hosting the first regional Terra Madre Asia and Pacific gastronomical meet up. For nearly two decades, Negros Island has led the country’s organic movement, driven by communities that support agricultural production and sustain its preservation. 

These locally sourced pop ups bring fresh food straight from farm to table - with no middle managing, keeps prices affordable and pays planters directly for their goods. Growing and going a lot further than through big and commercialized food chains. 

Farmers’ markets and food fairs are a fundamental part of the urban-rural interface. They continue to grow in popularity, mostly due to the awakened consumer interest in obtaining fresh products - specially produce directly from farms close by. 

During this season, we have been enjoying browsing and shopping around the stalls and kiosks set up in local malls and community centers. 

The farmers markets and food fair offer healthy eating recommendations - offering a variety from all five food groups. Including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy (or dairy alternatives). The different booths had seasonal products and fresh healthy options. 

Native treats and specialties - sweet, salty or savory, all delicious and lovingly prepared for us. Discovering all the fruits and vegetables we missed, as well as new finds - whether exotic or familiar staples. 

What a fun adventure it was to taste more novel products not readily found at a local supermarket - variety is definitely the spice of life! This is what keep us young and alert - happy adventuring to all. 

Organic Revolution is Here!