Helping tap the potential of the Philippine cacao industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will showcase the booming industry of Quezon province from the crop.

Much attention is expected from the cacao products produced from the initiative of Quezon 4th District Representative Angelina “Helen” Tan for the industry.

Tan spearheaded the development of cacao farming in the province in nine towns pilot in her district, namely: Atimonan, Plaridel, Lopez, Gumaca, Perez, Calauag, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, and Quezon.

To be showcased during the DTI’s “Kalakal Quezon” at SM City Lucena, Mall Atrium from May 25 to 31 are products of the Four K Kakao Farm in Quezon province.

Tan’s initiatives paved the way for the inauguration last November 2020 by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of a cacao processing facility in Gumaca, Quezon led by Agriculture Secretary William Dar and DA Region 4A (Calabarzon) Director Arnel de Mesa.

“Tangerine” is dark chocolate made by the Kakao Integrated Development for Livelihood and Transformation or KIDLAT, an organization of marginalized farmers that Tan organized.

The congresswoman’s efforts for Quezon’s chocolate industry earned her the label “Chocolate Queen of Luzon.”

Kalakal Quezon is an annual event organized by the DTI-Quezon provincial office to promote the products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with this year’s event focusing on the best cacao-based product from Region 4A.