Organic resto still not feasible in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Although Cebu is trying to position itself as the premier health and wellness destination in the country, establishing an all-organic restaurant here is not seen as a profitable business yet.

Restaurateur Derek Dytian said that Cebu market is still not as sophisticated, as demand for highly-specialized, all-organic food servings still not encouraging.

However, he said the demand for vegetable-based and salad-based menus are increasing, this with the fast growing number of consumers that are health-conscious.

At of this point, he said investing into an all-organic restaurant in Cebu still not seen as profitable as demand is “not there” yet, besides, the cost of preparing organic dishes is more expensive.

While there is an increasing demand for vegetable-based and salad-based menus from dining consumers, Dytian said the supply also of vegetables in the Southern Philippines has increased, as there are now more farmers supply good quality vegetables from Bukidnon, or even from Cebu hilly areas.

This time though, Dytian of the total vegetable and spices requirement from his restaurant chains, 40 percent are produced organically.

Some sophisticated and highly health-buff consumers are now looking for all-organic restaurants in the urban areas. At this time though, all organic restaurant are located mostly in the secluded areas or remote areas such as the Bee Farm in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Dytian, whose company owns several restaurant chains, like Chika-an, Café Alde, Big Mao and catering service Creative Cuisine said Cebu market still not as sophisticated as other markets in the world.

For his part, retailer, Jay Aldeguer said the Filipino consumers are still not demanding for organic products, although there is a growing market for it. “There is a market but it’s not enough.”

“Producing organic products here may cost better, than the other countries, because it’s something that we have access to [like in one’s backyard]. But, supply should be steady in order to develop the market,” Aldeguer said.

Organically-produced product may sell well, if it is sold in cheaper price, but in the Philippines, where cost over quality is the top priority, flooding the market with organic products may not be a wise idea as of the moment, he said.

One of the most active organizations in the Philippines that are promoting organic products, is the Southern Partners and Fair Trade Corporation (SPFTC), it is also pushing for organic farming in the Philippines, including Cebu.

SPFTC president and executive director Vicente Roaring earlier said only a few farmers here are inclined to pursue organic farming because of lack of market demand, and expensive farm operations.

“The organic movement is growing, we adhere to organic and natural farming,” Roaring said, however, to some this idea is still not seen to be very profitable yet, because embarking into organic farming needs tedious work, and patience.

One of the problems identified, is the quality of soil in Cebu that is not fertile and that organic farming may not thrive.