Coffee from Bukidnon and Sagada win international awards in Milan

Let's drink coffee to that!

Mirabueno Coffee from Bukidnon and SGD Coffee from Northern Sagada received the Gourmet and Bronze awards respectively, at the 5th International Contest of Locally Roasted Coffees organized by the Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA) in Milan, Italy last October 21. 

This is the second time the Philippines bagged awards in the coffee competition since Bana's Coffee from Sagada won the Gourmet prize in 2017. 

With the win, Mirabueno Coffee, SGD Coffee and the Coffee Heritage Project have put back the country in the world coffee map.

Chargé d'Affaires Mersole Mellejor of the Philippine Consul General's Office in Milan received the award on behalf of Raymund Mirabueno, Andrew and Mary Tomeg, Felipa Villicana, Zo Lim, Butch Acop, and Rich Watanabe of the Coffee Heritage Project.

The Coffee Heritage Project (CHP) is the team behind Mirabueno Coffee and SGD Coffee's participation in the AVPA. It is a non-profit private initiative that helps farmers grow quality-focused coffees.

"Our effort to get recognition for CHP’s partner- growers represents a small part of the total CHP work, but AVPA coffee competition helps us showcase the broader work we do to reforest land with sustainable and ecological integration of coffee, the high returns and quality of life offered to coffee growers, and our endless pursuit of the next frontiers in coffee roasting and taste," Acop of the CHP said in a statement.

An estimate of 700 producers from around the world participate in the annual competition, which serves as a platform for native coffee producers to be recognized at the international level.

(L-R) Felipa Villicana is a coffee producer from Sagada that SGD Coffee works with. Raymond Mirabueno is with Mirabueno Coffee. Photos courtesy of The Coffee Heritage Project

AVPA is a Paris-based a non-government and non-profit organization composed of mainly of coffee producers, industry experts and taste enthusiasts. Its objective is to contribute to enhancing the value of agricultural products and to recognize the excellence of producers.

Among the countries who participated in the contest are the Philippines, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Togo, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

Congratulations! — Ma. Angelica Garcia/LA, GMA News