BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), facilitated the visit of U.S.-based Teofilo Coffee Company to key coffee-growing communities in Northern Mindanao from February 11 to 13 as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the region’s coffee industry

Led by AMAD representatives and Teofilo Coffee Company Chief Executive Officer Ron Dizon, the delegation engaged directly with local coffee farmers and cooperatives in Bukidnon to explore potential opportunities and expand international market access for locally produced coffee.

The team met with the Daraghuyan Ancestral Domain–Inhandig Tribal Multipurpose Cooperative and the Impalutao, Dalwangan, and Sawaga (IMDALSA) Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Malaybalay City. They also toured Finca de Garces in Pangantucan, Milalittra Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (MILFACO) in Lantapan, and Misty Mountain Coffee Farmers Association in Talakag.

Teofilo Coffee Company has purchased two kilograms each of green coffee beans—Robusta, Red Bourbon, Typica, and Ethiopian Landrace—for comprehensive sampling and quality evaluation.

These selections will be featured at the upcoming World of Coffee 2026 in San Diego, California, where they will be showcased as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to quality excellence and global market engagement.

During the meetings, Dizon underscored the company’s commitment to promoting not only the quality of Northern Mindanao’s coffee but also the stories of the farming communities behind each product.

“We want to bring the farmers’ stories to the international level. We aim to highlight not only their products but also the people and communities behind them,” he said.

The initiative aims to strengthen market linkages between local farmers’ cooperatives and global buyers, creating greater economic opportunities for coffee-growing communities across the region.

Merly Umaros Suday, general manager of the Daraghuyan community, shared how the community transformed its coffee production from backyard farming for household consumption into a sustainable and reliable source of income for local families.

“Before, we planted coffee only for daily consumption. When we engaged with the DA, we realized that coffee could provide additional income to support our families and livelihood. That inspired our community to expand our coffee farms. We are truly grateful for the assistance of various agencies, especially the DA,” she said.

The activity aligns with the national government’s efforts to revitalize the Philippine coffee industry, enhance farmers’ incomes, and position local coffee products in the global market. (pr)