Sunday, February 13, 2011

CHEFS ON PARADE 2011

CHEFS ON PARADE... Ultimate Asian Showdown... 
Star ingredient...Pamora Free-range Chicken!

PAMORA Free-range Chicken...


Listing the indgredients...

THE JUDGES!


Participating Asian Countries...
Thailand

 Singapore

Philippines

Malaysia

Indonesia







THE FOOD

Thailand

Singapore

Philippines

Malaysia

Indonesia

2nd Runner-up... Malaysia!


1st Runner-up... Thailand!


 WINNER! 
THE PHILIPPINE TEAM!
Surely they know how to cook "Pamora" free-range chicken

Pamora Farm's Mr. Gerard Papillon with Chef Sau del Rosario of Bistro Vert

 With Chef Jean-Pierre MIGNE of TULOY Foundation

With Chef in Black Emmanuel Stroobant from Singapore
and
GM of Century Park Hotel Chef Philippe Bartholomi

Saturday, February 12, 2011

9TH NATIONAL BEEKEEPING CONVENTION & FARM VISITS

Last week, February 2-4, I spent 3 days at Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) in Lucban, Quezon for the 9th National Beekeeping Convention. I was personally invited to attend and learn about beekeeping by a friend from BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry). The weather was cold in the province of Quezon. The first time in my traveling experience that I haven't brought along a jacket. Luckily I had my shawl, as always a handy one :), a new year gift from Mara Pardo de Tavera, our president of OPTA. 
I have learned so much about beekeeping industry and will soon re-launch our beekeeping in our farm. I am now a member of BAPI (Beekeepers Association of the Philippines, Inc.) yehey!



My body felt the coldness of the weather, mountain's breeze, but my heart is over flowing with warmth ambiance and interaction with the people of the beekeeping industry. Most of them are also from Ilocos and Cordillera region. Some came from Visayas and others are all the way from Mindanao :) I had a great experience that I will surely treasure :)



During my stay at SLSU, I visited a nearby farm, the Costales Natures Farm, located in Majayjay, Laguna. It is some 15 minutes drive from SLSU. Had an organic breakfast with the owners, lovely couple Ronald & Josie Costales. Again, cold weather but with warm welcome and wonderful company.



Costales Nature Farm produces' organic vegetables, pork and free-range chickens.


After the breakfast at Costales Nature Farm, went back to the convention at SLSU, and at night, I slept at  the farm of Jonathan & Marilyn Polistico, located in Liliw, Laguna. Some 30 minutes drive from SLSU.


It was great to visit them and share our experiences in the free-range poultry concerns :)

Final farm visit at day 3 of the beekeeping convention, the "Pueblo Organic Farm" of D.A. Secretary Procy Alcala, located at Pagbilao, Quezon. Almost an hour drive from SLSU-Lucban. The attendees of the convention, (we are about 100 plus) enjoys the picture taking!



Monday, February 7, 2011

AN IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE TO SHARE

VETERINARY and TRAVEL/SHIPPING PERMIT... Where is it?

Last year, November 24, 2010, I got the replacement of the 182 day-old layer chicks for the mortalities we got last December 7, 2009 from the 700 day-old layer chicks imported from Dominant CZ.
Q - What I look for from the delivery man after counting the chicks in the box?
A - The Veterinary Certificate and Travel/Shipping Permit from Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
None! The delivery man simply said "I don't know that... Our office (supplier) didn't give anything..."

Yes dear free-range chicken growers out there, at the height of alarming scares with the A-H5N1 (Avian Influenza) and other avian diseases, a veterinary certificate that the chicks they are giving us are of good health condition and free from any diseases, and the travel or some refer to as shipping permit are two very important documents you should look for from your supplier. Any supplier, weather a poultry supply or a respectable veterinarian knows it very well, not just an ordinary note  that says "RECEIVED IN GOOD ORDER AND CONDITION".

BUT, this incident I have experienced, from a supplier to Pamora Farm for the last 2 and half years, is somewhat unbelievable! For the last 11 years we've been doing the free-range chicken production, we have learn our lessons and experiences, that even costs us very much. Our farm is located in Abra. From Manila to Abra, we have 3 quarantine checkpoints...
One in Tarlac; One in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; and one at Ilocos Sur-Abra boundary. Each of quarantine checkpoints look for travel documentations. No travel document may even result to confiscations!

Since I have learn my lessons through experience for the last 11 years and a little over :), I have prepared a simple certification, should the delivery man fail to provide me a veterinary & travel/shipping permit. I will just let him to sign the certificate I have prepared so my drivers traveling to Abra have document to support our traveling of said chicks... The delivery man refused to sign and said he was ordered by their office not to sign anything... No responsibility from supplier's part?... Not a good at all!
Where's the veterinary certificate and travel permit then? Tsk Tsk Tsk...
Calling the attention of Bureau of Animal Industry!
What I did, I just put a note in the certificate that "refused to sign".
For the record, it was distributed on the quarantine check points we passed on our way to Abra.

Dearest fellow free-range chicken farmers, always look for veterinary and travel permit from your supplier, traceability is very important and assurance too that you are always given a good quality chicks!




Friday, January 14, 2011

IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY CONTROL ON MEAT FOR FOOD SAFETY



Why does Pamora Free-range Chicken has NMIS seal?
NMIS stands for National Meat Inspection Service. It is the regulating body of the Department of Agriculture to secure food safety of all meat types. NMIS accredits ME's (Meat Establishments) like PDP (poultry Dressing Plant) SH (Slaughter Houses), and all MPP's (Meat Processing Plants). All ME's has their own license or accreditation number. 
Pamora Farm accreditation is PDP-732 "AA". Having "AA" category means our PDP meets all the regulations set by the NMIS so we could  supply all over the Philippines or national level, triple "A" is for international level.

Consumers should understand the process of a meat establishment that is NMIS Accredited (registered) and what are the regulations imposed to secure and have a safe and sound meat for human consumption. 

Pamora Poultry Dressing Plant (PDP) dresses exclusively Pamora free-range chickens. At each dressing day, NMIS meat inspector or the Municipal Veterinary that is duly deputized as meat inspector by the NMIS is present to check the live chickens before and after dressing to certifies that the meat to sell are fit for human consumption and that the processing of dressing chickens are following the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOP) program designed for the meat establishment. 

Every PDP, SH or any MPP  has its own design GMP and SSOP programs that addresses the following:

I. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
1. Food safety and quality policy
2. Personnel Hygiene (Health, Cleanliness, Working gears/uniforms, Hand Washing & Personnel Training)
3. Plant & building Facilities ( Location, Construction Design, Lighting & Ventilation, Tools, Utensils and Equipments)
4. Sanitary Facilities (Water supply, Waste management, Locker room & Toilet, Hand Washing Facilities, Sewage System & Waste Water Management, Pest Control)
5. Processing Operation (Start of operation, Storage of materials, Production Area, Control of Foreign Material, Warehousing and Distribution, Quality Control)
6. Maintenance and Sanitation (General Maintenance)

II. Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP)
1. Meat Processing Plant Operation
2. Safe Water (Ensuring Water Safety)
3. Condition & Cleanliness of Meat Contact Surfaces
4. Prevention of Cross Contamination (Personnel/Operating Practices)
5. Maintenance of Workers Sanitary Facilities: Hand Washing, Hand Sanitizing, Locker Rooms and Toilet.  (Employees Hygiene)
6. Proper Labeling, Storage and Use of Cleaning & Disinfectants
7. Control of Employees Health Condition
8. Protection of Meat, Meat Contact Surfaces and Meat Packaging Materials from Adulteration with Contaminants
9.  Exclusion of Pest

Every year, NMIS Accreditation has to be renewed and undergoes auditing by NMIS accredited auditors. GMP & SSOP programs are reviewed and updated.


NMIS Auditors, NMIS Regional officers, and LGU's are partners on monitoring & evaluation of ME's.



Each step of the way are monitored regularly and being evaluated at audit time that happens minimum twice a year. One announced audit and other unannounced audit/s.


Pamora Poultry Dressing Plant is the first in the country today to dressed exclusively free-range chickens and using "Air-Dry Chilling" facility, following the EU standard. It means that the chicken are of its real weight and no water added.


Pamora Farm adapts modern practices compliant to standards and regulations set both locally and internationally like Code Alimentarius.


Pamora is proud to say that we commit quality at every Pamora Free-range Chicken sold to consumers.


Let us know what could be improved and we will do it. 
Pamora Farm, Inc. is committed and invests in food safety and quality.


Friday, December 3, 2010

CAPON FOR THE YULETIDE SEASON

Here are some important details about Pamora Capon... a true Free-range Capon... :)
At 35 days or 5th weeks of age, its time to castrate the cockerels... Aw! But yes, the method of Capon is by castration. First to consider is the preparation of the cockerels for the operation, like in human, a procedure is also set. In our practice as I've trained in France, a week preparation is set prior to the operation day. It is not true that any young male chicken can be castrate at any given time. For a successful operation, the patient should be well prepared :)
After castration, we have to closely monitor our patients :)  They are set back on the range after 2 weeks of natural recovery and wound healing, then its free-range until 6 months.
Notice on this photo, the comb of this 6 months old Capon is not develop compare to one rooster that is not castrated...
A visual sign of a real Capon :)

A normal rooster has big comb and large wattles as shown on this photo in our farm. 
A normal rooster grown big just for weight doesn't have the same characteristics of Capon. Not the same taste at all! 

Pamora Free-range Capon are grown 6 months. Fed with yellow corn, lots of of grass in the range areas that are free from pesticides and other chemical inputs and all organic vegetables grown inside Pamora Farm, and given fresh clean potable water everyday!



This supreme product of Pamora Farm is not just any product. Pamora Capon is like Kobe Beef of Japan... A Ferrari or Rolls Royce among cars... Iranian Oscietre Caviar among Caviars... French Black Truffles du Perigord among mushrooms... Its an art of production with the heart and passion of the producer :)

AND SO... VOILA!!!
For your Special Christmas Celebration with your love ones, family and friends...
Enjoy a Pamora Capon!