FreshStart Organics has produced two organic coffee blends that are all grown under shaded trees using the raw materials of small farmers.

The project is assisted by the province of Negros Occidental, Ramon Uy Jr. - president of Organic na Negros! Organic Producers and Retailers Association, and FreshStart Owner said yesterday.

The coffee products are the Negrense Native Organic Coffee (Single Origin) and the Mt. Kanlaon Premium Blend Organic Coffee. The group is also packaging a new brand, the Hacienda ‘Estate-grown’ Organic Coffee, Uy said.

Coffee plants in Negros Occidental are naturally shade-grown and flourish as part of the understory in tropical rainforests, he said.

Coffee does not only produce economic income but also contributes to the biodiversity of the forests, protection of bird habitats, Uy also said.

He said that its production also benefits small coffee farmers like the additional harvest in fruit and nuts, less exposure to toxic chemicals, and minimal production costs.

“The demand for coffee is high thus many producers have turned to sun-grown coffee to meet it but growing it needs protection from pesticides andrequires forest leveling,” Uy said.

During production, the red coffee cherry is selectively handpicked to ensure best quality and because it is allowed to mature more slowly in the shade, the natural sugar increases and enhances its flavor, he also said.

Negrense Native Organic Coffee is a single-origin coffee and has a deeply rich flavor while the raw materials of Mt. Kanlaon Premium Blend Organic Coffee are grown at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon volcano and have a high-toned aroma, Uy said.*LTG

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