Organic and natural Australia

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

- CHIT U. JUAN

I think it is possible for a country of 27 million to really impose rules so organic and natural becomes a way of life, and not just a certification for premium prices of "safe" food.

On my recent trip to three Aussie cities — Sydney, Hobart and Melbourne — I could not help but notice the "front of pack" labels with the big NO preservatives, no coloring and no additives.

Imported products, I guess, will have to be subjected to such requirements to be able to join mainstream supermarkets and groceries in this continent.

We had the chance to meet our trade representatives in Sydney's popular Taguan Café (proudly Filipino), Emman Ang and Pia Perfecto-Ramos, who asked us what products can be brought in to Australia besides coffee, of course. As we speak, we are already looking at sending not a few bags of Philippine coffee to this booming coffee community down under.

There is a café almost at every corner, but they are independent cafes, not chains, and all have a different offer, vibe, but same price ranges and hours (they close at 3 or 4 p.m.).

It was good to know that there are about 470,000 Filipinos working in high-paying jobs like nursing and other science-based occupations. These OFWs thrive well in Australia because of the government's policies on work-life balance and benefits like free education, and even free transport (as we experienced in Melbourne) like trams within a city zone.