Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

SUCCESS STORIES

Keno Foods Inc. and the Multi-Commodity Solar Tunnel Dryer
by (July 16, 2012)
Mr. Victor Mendoza, 41 years old, is the owner of the Keno Foods Inc. in Bustos, Bulacan. He processes dried tilapia known as “tilapia crunch” using the PHilMech technology, Multi-commodity Solar Tunnel Dryer (MCSTD). He processes 150 to 200 kilos of tilapia crunch every operation. The Keno Foods Inc. usually processes tilapia crunch three times a week. The Keno Food products are sold to majority of Shopwise and Rustan’s supermarkets and selected restaurants and fruit stands in Metro Manila. Balikbayans in the province also purchase tilapia crunch to serve as pasalubong abroad.

Mendoza’s first encounter with the MCSTD brought him into a new idea that processing tilapia is a good business. “I was into tilapia growing business before entering the tilapia processing industry. It started when I read in a PHilMech newsletter about the MCSTD. I found out that tilapia can be processed through the technology.”

Said Mr. Mendoza of his success: “Malaki ang tulong ng MCSTD dahil ito ang main drying unit ko. Hindi magiging possible ang malinis na pagda-dry ng tilapia kung wala ang MCSTD. Nagsimula ako sa business na MCSTD na ang gamit ko at nagfit talaga sa negosyo. Functional ito at practical…” (MCSTD is a big help because it is my main drying unit. Hygienic drying of tilapia will not be possible without the MCSTD. I started in this business using MCSTD and it really fit the business because it is functional and practical…)