From a warm cup of hot choco made out from hundred percent cacao from Pangasinan to the newly innovated pakbet crisps of Ilocos young farmers, to the nine-year old bugnay wines of Ilocos Norte, and handicrafts that were creatively put together piece by piece… surely the local agribusiness industry of Region 1 has so much to offer not to mention its ever popular bagnet, chichacorn, longganisa in different variations and whatnot.

Annually, the Deparment of Agriculture in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, jointly holds the Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Exposition (ASPIRE).

This yearly celebration had provided farmers and fisherfolk an avenue to promote their products, both fresh and processed.

“In ASPIRE, we aim to connect the farmers and fisherfolk to the market in hopes to transform the sector with a more competitive agri-preneurs,” said PCCI Agri-committee Co-Chair Mr. Salvador Salacup in his keynote message.

For its fifth year, ASPIRE kicked-off today at Robinson’s Place, Calasiao, Pangasinan which was participated by 25 exhibitors and will continue to run until June 18, Sunday.

Any interested individual can visit ASPIRE and connect with farmers and fisherfolk to check out their fresh and processed products of milk, mushroom, bangus, mango, peanut butter, bagnet, longganisa, miki, tablea, squash noodles, wine, and duck binagoongan.

Other local products showcased in the event include condiments such as sukang Iloko and soy sauce alongside booths with displays of chicacorn, chichapop, banana chips, cornick, cassava chips, baked goodies, hand made crafts, organic fruits and vegetables.