Arabica Push in the Philippines

Local coffee producers are currently being urged to plant and grow Arabica coffee in an effort to market Philippine coffee beans across the globe.

At present coffee farmers are concentrating on Robusta coffee, the beans of which are stronger in flavour and are the type used by the majority of instant coffee manufacturers, according to Allen Arvin A. Tan. He’s the manager director of Red Cherry N’ Silver Tips Corporation, owners of franchises of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the province of Cebu.

Tan said that his company were encouraging local farmers to start cultivating Arabica coffee following the higher level of demand the coffee type globally. He added that Philippine soil had the capacity to produce a more expensive variety of Arabica beans but that growers have so far been reluctant to switch because of uncertainty over where they could sell them.

In his efforts to promote Arabica coffee and reach out to local producers, Tan’s company has partnered with non-government organisations, Bukidnon province-based Kasilak Foundation, which is coordinating with farmers already growing Arabica coffee beans and expecting their first harvest by the end of 2010. Once collected, these beans will apparently be sent to California where the yield will be tested. Provided the beans achieve positive results, they will then be packaged as Philippine coffee and sold to shops. Tan also revealed that as well as exporting Arabica coffee, it’s hoped that domestic interest in the bean will also be boosted.