More than 200 years ago, the production and export of coffee was once a major industry in the Philippines. Back then, the country was the fourth largest coffee-producing nation. Today, however, the country produces only 0.012 percent of the world's coffee.
With the majority of coffee produced in the mountain areas of Batangas, Bukidnon, Benguet, Cavite, Kalinga, Apayao, Davao, and Misamis Oriental, efforts are being undertaken to revive the industry.
One such effort is to offer a rich coffee variant that is 100-percent Filipino, locally grown and harvested by Pinoy coffee farmers. Kape Maria, a young brand created by coffee enthusiast Julia Sevilla, also provides sustainable livelihood to coffee farmers and cooperatives in different regions all over the Philippines through a strong partnership with coffee farmers associations. Buying Filipino produce helps sustain the livelihood of coffee farmers who are sometimes taken advantage of by larger businesses in the coffee supply chain.
Kape Maria secures its stocks directly from farmers and cooperatives all over the country and all the beans are sold through fair trade. It also shares knowledge on coffee brewing as it slowly reestablishes Filipino coffee culture and evokes national pride by inspiring coffee drinkers to patronize local supply. By making local coffee more known in the Philippines and creating a bigger demand, Kape Maria hopes to help alleviate poverty among Filipino farmers.
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Credits to PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER. Click HERE to view the original article.
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