CITY OF ILAGAN, ISABELA – The coffee industry in the region is expected to soar high with the recent launching of the 11 coffee brands during the 2nd Cagayan Valley Coffee Business Forum and Brand Launching in the City of Ilagan on April 26, 2018.
Quirino Governor Junie E. Cua, the guest of honor said in his speech that this event is an aspiration of the people to be freed from the bondage of poverty.
“We must have this entrepreneurial spirit, the spirit to fight against the greatest battle that is poverty”, he added talking to more than 450 participants.
The Departments of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02 (DA RFO 02) and Trade and Industry 02 (DTI 02) for the past years have been helping coffee farmers thrive in the production of coffee, processing, trade, roasting or marketing in the region.
DA RFO 02 OIC-Regional Executive Director Lorenzo Caranguian urged farmers to support the growing industry of this crop.
“Region 02 is contributing only one (1) percent of the total national production,” he stressed emphasizing that a hectare produces only a mere .2 metric tons.
With the collective efforts of the government and its stakeholders, DA RFO 02 and DTI 02 came up with the idea to launch its very own brand that originated from the mountains and sea breeze.
“There were stories of hope, struggles, and rich experiences that are worthy to be shared”, Juliet Morales, a coffee grower said in an interview during a coffee farm visit in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. Her brands include Cool Mist Coffee and Vizcaya Valley Blend which were among the 11 brands that were introduced to the public.
Kirstin Reyes, owner of Barako Boy Coffee returned home after working abroad for seven years. With her deep connection to coffee, she founded an artisan coffee shop established in Tuguegarao City at an affordable price.
Other brands from the mountain areas of the region include Ambaguio Finest of Tiblac Langak Farmers Association of Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, Cafe Santa Fe a homegrown product of the Local Government Unit (LGU) Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, DISADECO Coffee, a 100 % organic coffee produced by Diffun-Saranay Development Coffee of Diffun, Quirino, GAMAFA Brave and Strong manufactured by Gabriela Masipag Farmers Producers of Gabriela Silang, Diffun, Quirino, Quirino Mountain Blend of Mataga-ay Coffee Growers Producers Cooperative of Jose Ancheta, Maddela, Quirino.
Lowland areas brand, include the Angadanan Robusta blend manufactured by Angadanan Forest Region Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Angadanan, Isabela, Collagen Coffee of Clovenbil Corporation based in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan and the Claveria See Breeze owned and managed by Kilkiling Upland Farmers Association in Claveria, Cagayan.