Luna, Apayao - A chocolate maker from Apayao secured a notable achievement as one of the top three winners in the 70% dark chocolate bar-making competition during the 1st Cordillera Chocolate Festival.
Dolores Ortega, a native of Conner, Apayao, shone in the said competition, eventually hailed as one of the top three chocolate makers in Cordillera. She bested other competitors from different provinces in the region.
In the contest, Dolores crafted chocolates from cacao she sourced from their 20-hectare family estate in Conner.
Her legacy of making chocolates was started by her father in 1994, and continues to thrive to date, proof of her dedication and success in the industry.
To recall, Cordillera unwrapped its first chocolate festival on February 14, 2024, at Benguet State University (BSU), with the theme “Generating Sustainable Cacao Value Chain.”
It was organized by Dulche Chocolates Incorporated, a start-up funded by the Department of Science and Technology.
A wide array of cacao products from the provinces of the Cordillera were showcased during the event, signaling the beginning of concerted efforts to strengthen the chocolate industry in the Cordillera region.
The event aims to highlight and promote sustainable practices within the local cacao industry, a crucial step toward ensuring the sector’s long-term viability and impact.
It also served as a dynamic space for cacao farmers and processors in the region to converge and develop business opportunities.
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