Davao Chocolate Festival Highlights Region's Cacao Produce

"Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." ~ Forrest Gump

Who doesn't love chocolates? Whether it's the milky sweet, dark, plain or with nuts or fruits, a chocolate bar can surely satisfy one's sweet craving. Lucky for us here in Davao as we get to taste world-class chocolates of all kinds and I'm not talking about the imported ones but those produced locally.

Yes here in Davao, local chocolate products are growing in popularity and are making a name in the international market. In fact, Davao's chocolates such as those of Malagos Garden Resort are now renowned as world-class owing to the international awards they have won in recent competitions.

To honor Davao's chocolates and cacao growers, a yearly Davao Chocolate Festival has been organized since 2013 in partnership with the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (CIDAMI). Hosted by SM City Davao, the event puts the spotlight on the region's booming cacao produce, the growers, processors and cafe owners. The just-concluded 2017 festival took place last week at the Annex Event Center of SM City.

During the opening program, CIDAMI executive director Val Turtur revealed that they only had seven growers, processors and artisans when the festival launched four years ago. Since then, their numbers have grown and there are now 74 players in the cacao industry. Turtur attributed the industry's growth to the strong support of the Davao City government.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio unveils the giant chocolate bar during the festival's opening. (Photo: SM City Davao)

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for her part, thanked CIDAMI and SM City Davao for holding this annual Chocolate Festival. She expressed gladness over the event's achievements which are to raise awareness on the region's growing cacao industry and encourage growers and business owners to produce top quality chocolate products. The Mayor also pledged the city government's support of Php2 million pesos for the local cacao industry.

It is the goal of the Davao City government and CIDAMI to meet 80 percent of the country's cacao production and eventually become the chocolate capital of the Philippines. "We hope that this event will serve as inspiration not only for livelihood but also in promoting Davao as a destination for cacao and chocolate enthusiasts and buyers," the Mayor said.

The exhibitors during this year's event include Cacao Culture, Chocoloco Inc., Auro Chocolate, Capt Du's Cacao, A&V, Johanns, Milky, Bright Side, Confex& Co., Sweets of Tirzah and Yolks. Mainstays Chocolate Bean, Comval Tropical Harvest, Malagos Chocolate, Cidami, Rosario Delicacies, Cacao De Davao, Puratos, Aromacology, Nutri Arch, Fedco, Chocolate de San Isidro, and Lara Mia.

Chocolate queen Rachael Roa shows how cacao beans are grounded & then made into chocolate bars. (Photo: SM City Davao)

Other activities held during the festival were cooking demos, lectures on growing, processing and packaging cacao and chocolate products and educational tours for kids. Also giving their support to the festival were the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture.

It is also interesting to note that Davao's chocolate products will be showcased in the "Salon du Chocolat" considered the most prestigious chocolate festival in the world. This international event to be held from October 30 to November 1 in the French capital of Paris will feature chocolates from 60 cacao producing countries.