Yesterday, the Filipino Department of Trade and Industry reported that a company signified its interest to increase banana exports to Europe. Villa Socorro, a social enterprise based in Pagsanjan, Laguna, signified interest as its banana exports have attracted buyers from the European Union.
"Villa Socorro's exports to Europe are at 5 percent, with buyers in Switzerland, Norway and EU member state the Netherlands," it said. "The company wants to increase business with Europe, specifically with EU member states, which the company regards as the best destinations for healthy organic food products made from tropical fruits.”
Therefore, the company obtained the Registered Exporter System, a self-certification system wherein the origin of goods is declared by economic operators themselves by means of so-called statements about origin. The Department of Trade and Industry stated: "To be entitled to make out a statement of origin, an economic operator must be registered in a database by the competent authorities. The economic operator then becomes a ‘registered exporter’."
Moreover, the company created a sub-brand, Farmony, to market its products in the EU. Villa Socorro is known to help small banana farmers whom it regards as its "partners" by purchasing almost 98 percent of their produce.
Source: manilatimes.net