The Philippine Coffee Board is undertaking a certification process this year to mark local coffee products that can use the Kape Isla seal.
This helps coffee farmers from the Cordillera provinces, the Visayas, and most of Mindanao get a premium for their certified coffee products. It also helps consumers choose their coffee based on quality and origin.
The PCB has been using the Kape Isla seal of excellent Philippine coffee since 2002 as part of its efforts to raise the standard of coffee production and promote the creation of premium products that bring higher income to farmers. In the case of Kape Isla, it is promoted mainly as a seal of origin.
The non-stock, non-profit coffee authority used the Kape Isla as a unifying seal for all the coffee from Cordillera, the Visayas and most of Mindanao. The seal can be seen in events where good coffee was sampled such as Management Association of the Phils. (MAP) conferences, golf tournaments and even in town fiestas such as PAHIMIS in Cavite, held every February.
But changes are afoot for 2016.
“This year, the PCB will undertake a certification process to vet local coffee that can use the Kape Isla seal,” the industry group said in a statement.
That means Kape Isla will not just be an origin seal but also a seal of quality.
Farmers can get better prices to as much as 30 percent more if the quality of their coffee is better and up to standards set by the Coffee Quality Institute, the authority on grading coffee and ensuring quality standards. The institute works with the PCBI by supporting the certification process and helping to undertake cupping courses to further improve the quality of specialty coffee, PCBI said.
Cupping is a course for producers and buyers to be more aware of the nuances of coffee and how to taste and grade quality coffee. These events will be held in March 2016 as a primer for more in-depth cupping courses to be held in the near future as the Board opens cupping labs around the country.
The Philippines imports more than P7 billion worth of coffee because local coffees still need to be improved to reach specialty scores. “This importation bill could very well go to Filipino farmers if quality standards are met and complied with.”
“We import 70,000 worth of coffee as consumption has risen to over 100,000 metric tons (MT) while production remained low at 25,000 MT,” PCBI said.
PCBI holds events to showcase Philippine coffee, usually in major malls such as the Greenbelt 5 gallery in Makati City and the Abreeza mall in Davao City. Since 1997, Ayala Land, which operates Greenbelt 5, has been a staunch supporter of advocacy promoting Philippine coffee.
After the successful coffee tasting events, the PCBI had a seal designed which would be put in all products that used local coffee. Coffee producers may get in touch with PCBI (www.philcoffeeboard.com) for details. Riza T. Olchondra