RP coffee produce eyed to serve global demand

CEBU, Philippines – International coffee chain, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, might consider sourcing its coffee requirements for its coffee shops worldwide after recognizing the quality produce of Philippine coffee growers.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Cebu franchise operated by Red Cherry and Silver Tips Corporation, led by its managing director Allen Arvin Angbetic Tan said that the mother company of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf based in California, USA recognizes the potential of Philippine coffee to meet the global market requirements.

Immediately after the worldwide convention of Coffee Bean executives held in Cebu recently, the officials of its head office in California expressed confidence that the Philippines could be a major contributor for the chain's requirements of coffee bean worldwide.

Tan, whose company operates four Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlets in Cebu and one that will soon open in Davao City, said that at this early, the Philippine master-franchisee for the coffee chain is already starting to work with coffee growers in Mindanao, through the Kasilak Foundation.

Promoting Philippine-grown coffee as organic, Tan said it is not difficult to say that "we are already producing organic coffee beans by default."

The Kasilak Foundation is currently helping coffee growers in Mindanao, especially in Bukidnon, by introducing improved methods in coffee growing, as well as pro-viding the growers with good seedlings.

The company, he said prefers to get the Arabica specie, as the Philippines produces good quality of Arabica coffee bean, and is also priced higher compared to the other species.

If this plan will materialize, coffee bean produced by the Filipino coffee growers will be exported to the United States, to the company's roasting plant in California.

Tan said there is also a possibility that Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf company will also market a specialty coffee product that will be branded as "Philippine Coffee" that will be made available in all Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee shops around the world.

With the help of a German NGO the DED, Kasilak Foundation, of which the company is closely working with, will encourage coffee growers initially in Mindanao to plant the high quality Arabica coffee.

The Philippines used to be the fourth largest producer of coffee in the 1800s. From 1886 to 1888, the country was the world's sole supplier of coffee.

A sampling of Philippine-produced coffee will soon be sent to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf headquarters office in California, Tan said.

In an earlier interview with Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI) vice-chairman Pacita U. Juan, she said that despite the fertile soil in some areas in the Philippines to grow good coffee, growers are only providing 10 percent of the 65 thousand metric tons demand a year, only for Philippine consumption.

She said there is big potential that the Philippines will regain its position as one of the top coffee bean producers in the world, if the government, together with the pri-vate sector will provide the necessary assistance to the country's coffee industry.

India and Vietnam coffee farming industry is a P3 billion industry because farmers have seen the commercial potential of coffee farming. (FREEMAN)