Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Philippines can grow great tomatoes. So why do farmers still struggle to sell their harvest while Filipino kitchens continue relying on imported canned tomato products?
In this documentary, we begin in Ilocos Norte with the kinalabasang tomato, a native heirloom variety known for its thin skin, pumpkin-like shape, sweetness, and balanced acidity. Its flavor makes it special, but its fragility and short shelf life make it difficult to transport and sell at scale. Could local processing help reduce waste, support farmers, and lessen our dependence on imported tomato products?
This is the story of what happens after a good harvest, and why growing food is only one part of feeding a country.
Special thanks to:
Alvin Andres
Rolando Ramos and family
Chef Rhea Sycip
Roberto Luis and family
Anita Mendoza and family
Mario Malong Jr.
Jimmy Gullunan
Julio Basilan
Jackery Badua
Jera Palayen
Candice Chung
Harold Lu
Joel Pascual
Waya Araos-Wijangco
Allen Buhay
Tosen Foods Inc.
For Restaurants & Businesses
facebook.com/iHeartTosenFoods
For Households: bit.ly/45M9Z37
Farm Forward Initiatives
facebook.com/ffiph
https://www.ffi.ph/
Greens For Good
instagram.com/greensforgood.ph
Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal Inc.
facebook.com/share/19Gz8P7ph6/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Bonifacio Global City
Bonifacio Global City Estate Association
Jump to:
(0:00) Intro
(1:40) Kinalabasa Tomatoes
(4:00) Batac Market
(8:20) Farming Potential, Risks
(16:45) Tosen Foods, Canning Tomatoes
(19:30) Cooking with Filipino Tomatoes
(22:20) Harvest, Challenges
(33:35) Tomato Taste Test
(39:50) The Reality
(54:00) The Future, Outro
Shop our merch: shop.featrmedia.com
Shop the products that we featured: https://chingolodeli.ph/collections/featr-finds
-------------------------------
We are looking for collaborators, content producers, brands, and anyone who has a story to tell. Email us at hello@thefatkidinside.com
The Fat Kid Inside Studios
Erwan Heussaff - Founder
Kashka Gaddi - Creative Director
Eamonn Quizon - Cinematographer
Edel Valera - Story Producer
Harold Singzon - Story Producer
Mary Lournette Baligod - Story Producer
Kleo Balares - Supervising Producer
Hans Rivera - Creative Director
Janelle Sy - Content Producer
Elyzza Ragodon - Associate Producer
Julius Rivera - Videographer
Lorraine Santos - Editor
Dana Blasé - Editor
Kim Arroyo - Editor
Evan Olfato - Editor
Hazel Juniosa - Editor
Whilhem Lorena - Multimedia Editor
RM Alfonso - Multimedia Editor
Martin Narisma - Food Editor
Ynna Gaita - Junior Food Editor
Kathryna de Bustos - Social Media and Content Manager
Chester Velasco - Studio Manager & Camera Operator
Kevin Amponin - Production Assistant
Dustin Dagamac - Colorist
Sofia Paderes - Graphic Artist & Illustrator
Joshua Gonzales - Graphic Designer
Dajed Binauhan - Multimedia Artist
Eros Deocariza - Multimedia Artist
Bianca Adriano - Accounts & Sales Coordinator
Donalyn Aranda - Administrative Accountant
Jennylyn Quizon - Admin Accounting Assistant
Marvin Hernandez - Messenger
Janette Mellina - Office Maintenance Personnel
Sandy Mellina - Office Maintenance Personnel
Content Creators:
Seth Alonzo
Samuelle Bawasanta
Trisha Chua
Nica Soledad
Interns:
Fionna Virgo
Dharlene Ilagan
John Gabriel Gemzon
Social Media:
instagram.com/featrmedia
tiktok.com/@featrmedia
facebook.com/featrmedia
https://x.com/featrmedia
threads.com/@featrmedia
Follow Erwan:
instagram.com/erwan
threads.com/@erwan
The Philippines can grow great tomatoes. So why do farmers still struggle to sell their harvest while Filipino kitchens continue relying on imported canned tomato products?
In this documentary, we begin in Ilocos Norte with the kinalabasang tomato, a native heirloom variety known for its thin skin, pumpkin-like shape, sweetness, and balanced acidity. Its flavor makes it special, but its fragility and short shelf life make it difficult to transport and sell at scale. Could local processing help reduce waste, support farmers, and lessen our dependence on imported tomato products?
This is the story of what happens after a good harvest, and why growing food is only one part of feeding a country.
Special thanks to:
Alvin Andres
Rolando Ramos and family
Chef Rhea Sycip
Roberto Luis and family
Anita Mendoza and family
Mario Malong Jr.
Jimmy Gullunan
Julio Basilan
Jackery Badua
Jera Palayen
Candice Chung
Harold Lu
Joel Pascual
Waya Araos-Wijangco
Allen Buhay
Tosen Foods Inc.
For Restaurants & Businesses
facebook.com/iHeartTosenFoods
For Households: bit.ly/45M9Z37
Farm Forward Initiatives
facebook.com/ffiph
https://www.ffi.ph/
Greens For Good
instagram.com/greensforgood.ph
Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal Inc.
facebook.com/share/19Gz8P7ph6/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Bonifacio Global City
Bonifacio Global City Estate Association
Jump to:
(0:00) Intro
(1:40) Kinalabasa Tomatoes
(4:00) Batac Market
(8:20) Farming Potential, Risks
(16:45) Tosen Foods, Canning Tomatoes
(19:30) Cooking with Filipino Tomatoes
(22:20) Harvest, Challenges
(33:35) Tomato Taste Test
(39:50) The Reality
(54:00) The Future, Outro
Shop our merch: shop.featrmedia.com
Shop the products that we featured: https://chingolodeli.ph/collections/featr-finds
-------------------------------
We are looking for collaborators, content producers, brands, and anyone who has a story to tell. Email us at hello@thefatkidinside.com
The Fat Kid Inside Studios
Erwan Heussaff - Founder
Kashka Gaddi - Creative Director
Eamonn Quizon - Cinematographer
Edel Valera - Story Producer
Harold Singzon - Story Producer
Mary Lournette Baligod - Story Producer
Kleo Balares - Supervising Producer
Hans Rivera - Creative Director
Janelle Sy - Content Producer
Elyzza Ragodon - Associate Producer
Julius Rivera - Videographer
Lorraine Santos - Editor
Dana Blasé - Editor
Kim Arroyo - Editor
Evan Olfato - Editor
Hazel Juniosa - Editor
Whilhem Lorena - Multimedia Editor
RM Alfonso - Multimedia Editor
Martin Narisma - Food Editor
Ynna Gaita - Junior Food Editor
Kathryna de Bustos - Social Media and Content Manager
Chester Velasco - Studio Manager & Camera Operator
Kevin Amponin - Production Assistant
Dustin Dagamac - Colorist
Sofia Paderes - Graphic Artist & Illustrator
Joshua Gonzales - Graphic Designer
Dajed Binauhan - Multimedia Artist
Eros Deocariza - Multimedia Artist
Bianca Adriano - Accounts & Sales Coordinator
Donalyn Aranda - Administrative Accountant
Jennylyn Quizon - Admin Accounting Assistant
Marvin Hernandez - Messenger
Janette Mellina - Office Maintenance Personnel
Sandy Mellina - Office Maintenance Personnel
Content Creators:
Seth Alonzo
Samuelle Bawasanta
Trisha Chua
Nica Soledad
Interns:
Fionna Virgo
Dharlene Ilagan
John Gabriel Gemzon
Social Media:
instagram.com/featrmedia
tiktok.com/@featrmedia
facebook.com/featrmedia
https://x.com/featrmedia
threads.com/@featrmedia
Follow Erwan:
instagram.com/erwan
threads.com/@erwan
