Are you a fresh food enthusiast?

A very bustling and dynamic location. A series of stalls offering everything! Includes fresh products, cooked cuisine, and seats. Shops are tucked behind rows of clothing, accessories, and electronics.

Before reaching the market, the Aeta farmers have to hike around 5 kilometers down the mountain and then ride a kolong-kolong, a tricycle with a roofless sidecar, for 45 minutes. Look how hard they work for the sake of their families and to fulfill their most fundamental needs.

Based on my observations, the Aetas have difficulty when buying food as they lack a market in which to sell their products. They end up consuming only their crop harvests, which mainly consist of root crops and some fruits such as bananas and papayas.

On the left side of the marketplace, we saw what you called “Kasoy leaves”.

Cashew leaves, based on research, are high in antioxidants and have antifungal, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. They contain both vitamins B and C. They contain a fair amount of iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, sodium, and potassium.

It can also help to treat diarrhea and reduce blood sugar levels.

Aside are the fresh vegetables and fruits coming from the mountainside. Among the organic produce of the Aetas farmers are ginger, taro, sweet potatoes, bananas, ube, and other upland crops.

This food may not be appealing to many but it tastes like fried chicken and can be prepared in many different dishes.

Sharing with an interesting dish: Delicious fried frog legs!
After washing and peeling the skin, cover each frog leg in the cup of plain flour before immediately pouring it into the egg wash mixture. Dip in the egg wash, afterward coat in the seasoned flour and cornmeal mixture.
Repeat until each one of your frog legs is ready to fry. Fry each leg for a total of three minutes on both sides, until golden brown.

Honey bee: They sell the authentic Honey bee for P200 or equivalent to $5 per bottle. Pure honey bee:

How can you tell if honey is real or fake?
The Warm Water Test is a life hack: mix a spoonful of honey with a glass of warm water. If the honey is pure, it will drop to the bottom of the glass in a lump or stick to the spoon when stirred. If the honey is tainted with any type of syrup, it will dissolve in water.

Vegetables and fruits:
Sustainable eating starts with local farmers.

There is a growing market today for local, organic foods produced by small farmers. And farmers’ markets have played a large role in making that happen.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are on their way! They sell this per kilo. It is the perfect time to buy vegetables due to its dropping prices.

These onion leeks (lasona), cost only P20 per bunch equivalent to &0.25.
Eggplant – P70 per kilo or equivalent to $1.20

Wholesale produce pertains to bulk fruits and vegetables available from a supplier. Grocery shops, dining establishments, and other businesses typically buy wholesale food instead of growing it themselves. Wholesalers often possess a network of producers from which they can obtain their produce.

Meat and Seafood Section:
Fresh meat is giving!

The retail price of pork belly increased by P20 per kilo compared to its highest cost of P400 per kilo on Monday.
The pork shoulder was sold for as high as P350 per kilo and pork belly, P420 per kilo.

We bought ½ Kg of pork cost P182.40, they are pork chops, back ribs, pork legs, and other parts of the meat.
We bought 1 kg of seaweed (green and brown).

After 30 minutes, we decided to sip and have a refreshment: Flavor: gulaman, melon, and daladan.

They are called banana que and camote cue, they use brown sugar as coating and are deep fried. Or they rolled it in flour.

A pleasant banana fritter ought to include a warm, soft banana in the center wrapped in a light, crispy batter. I emphasize the crispy texture of these traditional fritters with a light, firm caramel coating that provides a distinct snap when you bite into it.

From summer outfits, kidswear, and swimwear, to office outfits, bags, jackets, shorts, pants, underwear, curtains, bed sheets, - everything is at dropping prices!

And look! Who we bumped into! We saw Keeon and his parents in the market. We saw a bubble toy and look, a happy kiddo!

A day well spent!

I always love doing things that matter to me. Whether it is productive work, meaningful connections with nature, or enjoyable activities that bring me happiness!

So let us connect with nature through fresh produce.

Have a great day ahead, HIVER's!