Social Enterprise in Thailand at Singhapark Chiang-Rai, where business can help people

It’s not only about farming or tourist destination, it’s about people and society. This is what Singhapark do.

Social enterprise are new words for me, and I just know that it’s something that large company can do to make this world better.
And this place is the good example for Social Enterprise in Thailand .

Having lunch before going into the farm

I went to Singhapark at Chiang-Rai last weekend, and it’s a great trip. Because I had a chance to see the inside of the park (the part that tourist are not allowed to access), and it’s where all the story begin.

This enormous park is located in Chiang-Rai province, northern of Thailand, situated 450m above sea level and spans over 12.8km². With fertile land, this place is suitable for growing many kinds of fruit & vegetable. From the eye of the tourist this place is only a tourist destination, but it’s not what I saw.

Behind the fun activities and numerous beautiful sceneries, there are workers (and lot of them) who make this place so special.

Because “Social enterprise” means when they profit, society profits. Don’t be wrong, this place do make their money, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community.

Imagine that about 10 years ago, this place has nothing, and people who live here didn’t have a job, and farming was not easy for them too. Now Singhapark is the answer. There are about 1200 people in this park and most of them (about 90%of workers are local ^^), and I had a chance to talk to them they are very proud of what they do. With funding and high technology, this farm improve knowledge and skill for all the local people.

I really impressed when I had a chance to see mushroom farm, where they grow Shiitake. The kind of mushroom that needs a lot of attention.

People who work here, talk about their work with happiness, they are so proud of what they do. With lot of love that they put into their work, this mushroom is so good and delicious.

Most of the vegetables and fruits that grown here are not grown by locals as they need more technology and knowledge (plus funding), so they are not rival. But when the farm develop or find the breeding that strong enough to grown in Thailand, they provide their know-how to locals too.

I went to see flower nursery, where they take care of all the flower that have been use for decorating all of the farm.

Workers are so happy, I think that they are happy because everyone who come here fell in love with the beautifulness of the flowers that they grow.

Very sweet Cherry tomato: Fresh from farm

One of the place that I like is Melon farm, that they import the seedings from Japan. And I now understand why delicious melons are so expensive, because the farmer will let one melon per one melon plant.

And there are many kinds of berry farm, blueberry, strawberry, mulberry and raspberry, that many of them produce enough fruits for selling.

For most of us who love to cook, there are nothing great than finding good, delicious and organic ingredients that we will be happy to serve it to our family. This time I got delicious and very fresh blueberry from Boonrawd farm (the name of the farm inside Singhapark), that I really want to turn it into something delicious so I can remember this great trip for a long time after this ^^.

Blueberry New York cheesecake with Fresh blueberry sauce

Make 18 cm cake

Base
145g ………………………… Digestive biscuits
55g ………………………….. Melted butter

Filling
500g …………………………. Cream cheese (soft, at room temperature)
120g …………………………. Granulated sugar
1/4tsp ……………………….. Lemon zest
1tsp ………………………….. Vanilla extract
1/8tsp ……………………….. Salt
1 ………………………………. Egg
2 ………………………………. Egg yolks
120g …………………………. Whipping cream
15g …………………………… Cake flour
50g …………………………… Fresh blueberries

Frosting
190g ………………………….. Whipping cream
20g ……………………………. Plain yogurt
2tsp …………………………… Icing sugar

For serving
………………………………….. Fresh blueberry sauce (recipe below)

Preheat an oven to 190C
Line base removable18cm pan with baking paper.

Crush the biscuits with the rolling pin, and mix with melted butter.
Pour into the prepared pan.

Press until level.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until dry and brown.
Lower the temperature of the oven to 150C.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth (you can warm the cheese in the microwave at low for 1-2 minutes, or place it over a bowl of hot water to soften it before using).
Add the granulated sugar and beat until combine.
Add the lemon zest, vanilla extract and salt.

Beat until combine.

Pour egg and egg yolks into the bowl.
And beat to combine.

Pour the whipping cream into the bowl and beat to combine.

Pour the flour into the bowl and beat to combine.

The mixture will be very smooth.

Cover the base of the pan with aluminium foil, and place it over a large pan (line large pan with tea towel).
Place blueberries over the base.

Pour the cream cheese mixture into the pan, and pour hot water into large pan until it reach at least 1/2 of the cake pan..

Bake for 60 minutes.

Remove the cake pan from the large pan and run a thin knife around the side of the cake immediately.
(this will make the cake set flat).

When the cake cool refrigerate overnight.

Whip the whipping cream and yogurt together until soft peaks formed.

Cover the cake with the frosting, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fresh Blueberry sauce

200g ………………………. Fresh blueberries
40g ………………………… Granulated sugar
1tbsp ……………………… Lemon juice
1tsp ……………………….. Cornstarch
1 1/2tbsp ………………… Water

Put the blueberries, sugar and lemon juice into a small saucepan.
Place the pan over low heat, cook until the blueberry start to give some juice (there will be a sizzling sound).