Two coffee enterprises supported by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Caraga’s Enterprise Component showcased the best of their beans and brew as they exhibited their products at the Philippine Coffee Expo 2023, held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Manila from June 2 – 4.

The San Nicolas Development Cooperative (SANIDECO) from Sitio San Nicolas, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur and the Casiklan Wheels Farmers Association Inc. (CAWFAI) from Barangay Casiklan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte are part of the 18 PRDP-assisted coffee enterprises from Luzon and Mindanao showcasing at the expo.

In its 2^nd year, the Expo gathered industry experts, coffee farmers and cooperatives, coffee enthusiasts, and luminaries of Philippine coffee to celebrate and explore the vibrant coffee scene in the Philippines.

It also provided an opportunity for Proponent Groups to showcase, promote, and expand their markets by creating linkages with potential local and international buyers at the event and engaging in knowledge exchange through the expo’s Roasters and Producers Forum.

“Participation in the coffee expo opened up new opportunities for our coffee farmers and organizations in Caraga,” says Carmela V. Makinano, Enterprise Development and Marketing Specialist for DA-PRDP Caraga.

“They were able to meet local and international buyers. They also realized that there is a big market for Green Coffee Beans (GCB) and the demand mostly comes from coffee consolidators and coffee shops,” she adds.

With the theme ‘Celebrating Philippine Coffee: Brewing the Future’, the expo featured technical discussions on the latest trends and technologies in the coffee industry, trade fairs and exhibits, and the annual Philippine Coffee Quality Competition.

Looking forward, the Department of Agriculture – Caraga hopes to further provide support for coffee farmers through the introduction of new technologies.

“In the Caraga region, we hope to have a Cupping Laboratory so that our coffee farmers will be able to know the quality of their beans and identify its coffee notes, which include honey, jackfruit, banana, and berries, among others. We also hope to conduct continuous re-orientation on the proper production and harvesting of coffee beans to maintain its quality,” adds Makinano.

SANIDECO and CAWFAI are both producers of Robusta coffee and beneficiaries under DA-PRDP’s Enterprise Component. (Nichole L. Talatala | June 6, 2023)