22/10/2024
Monday 21.10.24 COCOA OF EXCELLENCE SHOW BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY
Alotau is being inundated with cocoa farmers, experts, buyers, exporters and more this week, as the Cocoa of Excellence Show officially gets underway this Thursday.
Over 200+ Cocoa samples have been entered into this year's National Cocoa Sampling and Tasting Competition, a major feature of the Show.
Three international chocolatiers are tipped to arrive in Alotau to begin sampling and tasting in a lead up to competition conclusion next Saturday where bronze, silver and gold awards will be announced.
Urban Kalaba from the Cocoa Board of PNG has been engaged in the competition since inception in 2015 and attests to seeing first hand the improvements.
"It's highly competitive this sampling and tasting competition. It's seen improvements to how our farmers dry their beans and have raised quality control to standards we are proud of. And the number of entries this year is at a total 244, that's almost two times greater than that entered in the last regional show in the Highlands and we've already screened them down to 107 for judges to begin eliminating to find this year's winner."
Jonathan Kapoila, PA Division of Agriculture and Livestock says for Milne Bay, they've entered a total 12 samples into this year's competition and so far, 9 have made it to the next stage and they are hoping for a good outcome."
Meantime, the 3-day show this year will take place at the Alice Wedega Park, currently finishing touches are going on.
Alotau Towns accommodation and hire cares are all sold out at this point, indicating a huge attendance from around the country.
Charles Koel- Extension Manager Cocoa Board of PNG says "Were expecting a huge attendance from around the country for stakeholders, line agencies and partners and it will mean injection of funds into Alotau's economy. The least people can do is support our course and to feel free to attend and be a part of the mingling, networking and learning of a Cocoa fi
