Residents of Brgy. Tabayo in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, listen as an instructor explains the importance of good agricultural practices during vegetable production training conducted by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. The Tabayo growers and other groups in the Zamboanga peninsula are being assisted by GEM to grow pinakbet vegetables, such as squash, ampalaya (bitter gourd), eggplant, string beans, and okra, as well as standard chopsuey ingredients like cabbage, sweet pepper and cauliflower. The GEM Program, through its Targeted Commodity Expansion Project (TCEP), is helping Mindanao growers to develop new markets and increase their domestic out-shipments of vegetables, under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority. GEM