US-based coffeehouse franchise explores sourcing prospects with Buk’n growers

 

MARAMAG, BUKIDNON — Supported by the agency in initiatives such as market linkage, product promotion, and equipment provision, the Rural Improvement Club Federation of Kape Maramag, Inc. moves closer to the global market as operators of a US-based coffeehouse franchise Biggby Coffee paid a visit on January 25 to explore potential farm-direct sourcing opportunities with its local growers.

Said federation is composed of farmers in the town with a focus on coffee value chain development.

Coordinated by the Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) and facilitated by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of Region 10 (DA-AMAD 10), the visit sought discussions with local growers to understand their practices and challenges, with the all-encompassing aim of establishing a supply chain link between Biggby Coffee and Bukidnon’s growing coffee industry.

The 15-year local coffee grower and member of the federation, Lucia T. Cabacoy, demonstrated to the visiting operators her 2-hectare farm of Catimor, Arabica, and Sweet Coffee varieties in Barangay Silang.

Adding potential sourcing prospects, the visiting operators also engaged with other coffee farmers in the province, including Corazon M. Llauderes of the Impalutao-Dalwangan-Sawaga Agrarian Reform Cooperative and Edeamae Onduran from Miarayon, Talakag.

Aligned with the agency’s initiative to help farmers link their production with broader markets, the visit solidifies DA’s ongoing efforts to push and promote Bukidnon’s coffee into the global trade.# (BJCE)