PASSION fruit peels, normally considered waste during passion fruit processing, were repurposed into a candied treat and trained to Lilykoi Food Products Manufacturings production workers through a technology-based training led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas, May 31.
The training not only provided a sustainable solution for reducing food waste but also offered a new product line for the company to potentially increase their revenue. This innovative approach, developed by the Institute of Food Science and Technology – University of the Philippines Los Baños (IFST-UPLB), highlights the importance of utilizing technology to create value-added products from agricultural by-products.
According to Dr. April Shayne L. Sulabo, the training resource speaker and Associate Professor 7 at the IFST-UPLB, this processing technology helps promote sustainabilityand profitability in the food industry by maximizing resources and minimizing waste.
During the training, she explained the properties of the passion fruit peels, the candyingprocess, the equipment required for the processing, and the packaging methods to ensure the quality and shelf life of the finished product. An awareness-seminar on basic food hygiene was also conducted to ensure their compliance with food safety standards.
Lilykoi Food Products Manufacturing, located at Brgy. Laurel, Taysan, Batangas, produces passion fruit juice in puree and concentrate form. In an effort to utilize passion fruit peels to reduce waste and increase product offerings, they sought DOST-Batangas assistance in developing a new marketable product using the passion fruit peels. To Ms.
Lilybeth Danan, owner of the company, the training helped them unfold innovation and sustainability in their business operations, leading to the creation of a new line of value- added products.
In 2022, Lilykoi Food Products Manufacturing has been approved for a DOST-funded project to upgrade its passion fruit processing under the Innovation for Filipinos Distantly Working from the Philippines (iFWD-PH) program. Ms. Danan, was a former housekeeper in Hawaii and an electrical engineer in Singapore prior to starting her passion fruit processing business.
