Organic black rice from SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) will be sold in the US, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture said.

 

"Don Bosco MPC (Multi-Purpose Cooperative) will be sending two tons of organic black rice to Los Angeles, California this first or second week of February," Don Bosco MPC General Manager Romano Laurilla said in a statement from DA Region 12.

Don Bosco MPC is based in M'lang in North Cotabato.

 

Don Bosco MPC's organic rice has already reached markets in Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany and Netherlands.

 

"The shipment in February will comprise the second batch  of black  rice exported to the US. The maiden delivery of one ton was made in November 2014," Laurilla said.

 

Don Bosco's black rice is distributed in the US under the brand Social Products. It is described as "an organic line of black and red rice from the Philippines grown by small co-op farmers in Mindanao, Philippines."

 

Laurilla said Don Bosco MPC's black rice will be "parceled in one-pound and five-pound packages" and placed in specially-designed box "in accordance with their partner's efforts to sell the organic cereal as a premium product." 

 

He said several restaurants in Los Angeles are already waiting for Don Bosco MPC's product.

 

"If this continues, our  organic rice  could  also be  marketed in other parts of the US," Laurilla said.

 

Don Bosco MPC's organic black, red and brown rice are grown on more than 500 hectares in the towns of M’lang, Tulunan, Midsayap and President Roxas in North Cotabato and Surallah in South Cotabato. — (Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/JDS, GMA News)

Source: DA: Organic black rice from SOCCSKSARGEN to be sold in US