La Trinidad, the bustling capital of Benguet, is set to elevate its coffee production by planting an additional 20,000 seedlings this year. The initiative was announced during the opening of the town’s 8th Coffee Festival on February 10, 2025, themed ‘Brewing unity through coffee.’ The festival not only celebrates the local coffee culture but also aims to encourage more residents to engage in coffee cultivation.
Nida Organo, the municipal agriculturist, shared that the new seedlings will be planted at the onset of the rainy season to boost production. In 2024, the community’s enthusiasm led to the planting of at least 5,000 coffee trees, with many residents planting at least 10 trees each after recognizing the crop’s lucrative potential.
The town has set an ambitious goal to plant 25,000 trees starting in 2025, with plans to increase this number over the next four years. In 2023, La Trinidad’s 99,000 fruit-bearing coffee trees yielded 10.4 metric tons of green beans, showcasing the town’s growing capacity in coffee production.
Innovative techniques such as rejuvenating old trees and ‘topping’—cutting the top of trees to promote branching and berry growth—are being adopted by local farmers. These methods have contributed to an increase in production from 300 grams to one kilogram per tree annually.
The quality of La Trinidad’s coffee has also seen improvements, with local growers achieving an 80 percent cupping rate in national competitions, thanks to training programs. The high value of coffee is reflected in its market prices, with green beans fetching between PHP350 to PHP480 per kilo, and roasted beans ranging from PHP800 to PHP1,300 per kilo, depending on quality.
Despite a robust demand and no issues with marketing and sales, the challenge lies in increasing supply and production. The local arabica coffee variety is popular among buyers and consumers alike. With over 700 coffee farmers in the area, the local government continues to encourage residents to use their idle spaces for coffee cultivation.
The Coffee Festival serves as a platform to strengthen market linkages, attract coffee shops to set up in the area, and engage restaurants and direct buyers in the coffee industry, fostering a cycle of growing, producing, and consuming locally.