CABANATUAN, Nueva Ecija, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here is promoting products of cooperatives that sell fresh and processed mushrooms, such as mushroom “sisig” and “tempura.”

DTI Nueva Ecija Provincial Director Brigida Pili said these mushroom growers of this province are recipients of their One-Town-One Product (OTOP) program.

Pili said the mushroom industry in the province has huge potential as a great alternative to meat.

Seeing the viability of the cooperative's mushroom production, other institutions including the municipality of Lupao, Nueva Ecija, the Philippine Army, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), and the Land Bank gave mushroom cooperatives grants amounting to more than P1 million combined.

Likha ng Central Luzon (LCL) Trade Fair next week at the SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City will showcase products of award-winning cooperative Parista Barangay Defense System Multi-purpose Cooperative (PBDS-MPC) of Lupao, Nueva Ecija.

The cooperative will sell fresh and processed mushrooms at the annual regional trade fair organized by the DTI Region 3 (DTI-R3).