Alter Trade Brings Products From Local To Global
When people say Negros, sugar always comes to mind but when it comes to muscovado, the byword for locals and tourists alike is the Alter Trade Manufacturing Corporation. Founded at the height of the sugar crisis in 1978, Alter Trade is a company experienced with exporting products overseas with its first overseas export sent to Japan in 1987. Today, its muscovado milling plant in Ma-ao, Bago, same district as the once mighty Central Azucarera de Ma-ao, continues to produce for their expanded international markets.
At the Negros Trade Fair, the team spotted a number of boxes with labels in German, French and Italian under the Claro and Alter Eco brands which is Alter Trade’s official brands for marketing in Europe. Currently, Alter Trade exports their muscovado products to South Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Austria, Japan and France which finds its way to pastries, liquor drinks and even the famed Swiss and Belgian chocolate. Alter Trade is one of only few mills in the country to pass the strict international fair trade standards.
Apart from Muscovado, Alter Trade also produces organic produce like bananas, tuber cookies, organic novelty rice, vegetable-based noodles and tablea chocolates for the local and some limited international markets. Bananas from Alter Trade’s farm is of the Balangon variety which is native to Negros and now finds its way primarily in the dining tables of Japan and South Korea with its co-product, organic banana chips, which has a variety of flavors ranging from classic sweet ones, to spicy and turmeric as well.
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