Every day for the last 26 years, master coffee roaster Jun Magbato travels from his home in Parañaque to the Gourmet Farms estate in Silang, Cavite for work. He said he doesn’t mind. His journey working in the coffee industry spans much longer.
He started working when he was just in high school. He was involved in quality control at two different coffee brands before an opportunity at Gourmet Farms presented itself. After years of training and dabbling in different processes, he is now in charge of the coffee roastery.
“Dito na ako natututo mag-roast. Nakagawa na rin ako ng sarili kong blend. Dahil rin sa trabaho ko dito, nakapag-ipon ako at napag-aral ko ang mga anak ko,” shares Jun.
Jun is just one of the many employees who have been with the company for decades. “Nagtatagal kami kasi hindi kami pinababayaan ng kompanya,” he says. For the management, it’s because the company fosters familial relationships among its people.
“We’re a family, it’s always been like that. We are run as a corporation, but at the core of it, we’re a family,” Ginny de Villa, Gourmet Farms’ Director for Sales and Marketing, says.
Aside from its 170 employees, Gourmet Farms also makes sure to take care of the welfare of the farmers and farming cooperatives it works with. Gourmet Farms advocates coffee education among its farming partners. It has coffee experts that go around different parts of the country to teach the farmers about new practices in coffee farming and processing.
“We’re not discrediting their practices, but there have been a lot of studies and research on how to be more efficient and modernize coffee farming and processing. The better they can provide quality coffee, the more the market will buy from them, the more the farmers can dictate their price,” Chef Vince Santos, one of Gourmet Farms’ coffee experts, says.
Continued support for local brands such as Gourmet Farms only means the support is extended to the communities and individuals it engages with.
Gourmet Farms Coffee products are available in Kultura stores located inside SM Malls. You may also order Gourmet Farms Coffee and other uniquely Filipino products online at www.kulturafilipino.com launching soon.
For more info:
Post a Comment