BY KEITH BACONGCO
DAVAO CITY – Coffee producers from the famed village of Balutakay at the foot of Mount Apo in Bansalan, Davao del Sur will hold its first auction of specialty coffee here on January 20.
A FARMER sorts coffee cherries in Barangay Balutakay, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of MCN)
Rhoda Ruth Pillerin, chief executive officer of the Model Cooperative Network, said the specialty coffee beans are from 18 producers from the Balutakay Coffee Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (Bacofa).
Pillerin added that the Arabica coffee green beans have been graded by Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) certified graders.
MCN is providing technical assistance to support the coffee value chain activities under its project Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas (SPADe) and Mindanao Peace and Development (MinPAD) RISE Program of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
It is also supported by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Pillerin added that only those graded 80 and above have been selected for auction.
Over 100 producers submitted their samples but only 18 made the cut.
The highest cupping score was earned by Cherry Gil Cabanday with 85.45 with cupping notes berries, cinnamon, and wine.
Unlike other coffee varieties, Arabica coffee is considered the superior coffee and sold at higher prices.
“This is the first time that Bacofa will hold an auction of their specialty coffee in the Philippine market,” she admitted. “We are also testing the water through this auction to see the response of the market.”
Pillerin added that most these producers also belong to winners circle of Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC).
Coffee producers in Bansalan have been consistent in the winners circle in PCQC since 2018.
As of January 12, several prospect buyers have signified their interest in the auction that will be held at Park Inn by Radisson Davao.
Under this project, Pillerin hopes to educate the public on the value of the specialty coffee from the Davao region.
MCN assists the coffee producers in making sure that they are following top quality standards in processing their coffee beans, she added.
She urged local coffee shop owners, roasters, and even home brewers to patronize the local specialty coffee to further boost the income the local producers.
“Because when you are buying local specialty coffee from Bacofa, it could help in the expansion plans of the group,” Pillerin said.
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