The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center XII (ATI RTC XII) held a two-day training on Fruits and Vegetable Processing at Kadiwa Hall, Brgy. San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato. The event, aimed at enhancing food preservation skills, focused on providing participants with essential knowledge and practical techniques.

On Day 1, Ms. Victoria Motril, owner of VMotril’s Farm, introduced topics such as the importance of food processing and the Food Safety Act of 2013. The goal was to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge on transforming fruits and vegetables into safe and valuable products.

Day 2 saw participants engage in hands-on demonstrations, learning to create pineapple jam, ketchup, and noodles and flour from squash. These practical sessions allowed participants to enhance their skills in preventing food waste by turning surplus fruits and vegetables into value-added products.

The participants, from Alabel, Sarangani Province, were recipients of a Community Garden project in 2023. This training, part of the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), aimed to support sustainable practices and improve income-generation opportunities for local farmers.