Nestlé opens 3 new coffee buying stations

MANILA, Philipines –Nestlé Philippines, the parent company of Nescafé in the country, recently opened 3 new buying stations in key coffee-producing provinces, providing greater market access to farmers.

Small and medium-scale coffee producers and intermediaries can now sell their coffee to new Nestlé buying stations in Silang, Cavite; Lapuz Norte in Iloilo; and Bagong Pook in Lipa, Batangas.

Around 5,500 coffee growers in Cavite, Iloilo City, and parts of Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras are expected to benefit from the increased market access as well as training in plant propagation.

“Coffee buying stations enable coffee farmers to sell their coffee harvest based on the market price. By sourcing directly from local farmers, we are not only assured of long-term supply but also secure robust livelihoods for our small farmers,” said Edith de Leon, senior vice president and head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Philippines.

The establishment of the new buying stations is part of the company’s Farmer Connect program under the global coffee initiative NESCAFÉ Plan according to De Leon.

She added that the firm regularly sends price updates on coffee via SMS to local growers to allow them to get maximum profits out of their produce. Farmers also get paid on the same day they deliver their produce.

Through the buying stations, coffee growers can also get access to best agricultural practices in coffee farming, production, and processing.

Nestlé’s in-house agronomists provide farmers and suppliers with training on the latest and sustainable coffee-growing techniques to ensure quality produce and maximum yield.

“Nestlé Philippines sees sustainability in coffee production as a key priority in order to achieve self-sufficiency in the local sector by 2020,” De Leon said.

In 2014, Nestlé procured 54,000 metric tons of coffee beans locally.

Nestlé operates 10 other satellite coffee buying stations in key coffee-producing regions.

These are in Silang, Cavite; Lipa City, Batangas; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley; Tagbina, Surigao del Sur; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; Tagum City, Davao del Norte; General Santos City, South Cotabato; Maramag, Bukidnon; Buenavista, Agusan del Norte; and Iloilo City. – Rappler.com