For some, retirement marks the end of their career, while for others, it is the chance to start something new or turn their passion into business.
The Green Beans Marketing Cooperative (GBMC) is a cooperative established in 2012 by a group of private individuals, retired and non-retired employees of a food and beverages company in the Philippines which is well-known for its coffee production. GBMC was created in a desire to uplift the coffee industry in the Philippines by producing coffee and promoting coffee farming in Laguna.
Gifted with a 5.5-hectare land in San Pablo City, Laguna, GBMC-Laguna chapter requested machines and equipment from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program. The SSF program assists MSMEs by providing them with machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills, and knowledge under a shared system. Thus, GBMC was awarded with a coco shell furnace, coffee huller and coffee roaster.
According to them, DTI was the first government agency that helped them start their business. Through the equipment given to them, the group was able to provide jobs for the members and the community. Some members were also able to stand on their own and eventually built their own coffee business.
The GBMC offers coffee seedlings and services to clients. The most used equipment by the GBMC and clients is the coffee huller. More so, the knowledge, skills, and certifications of the members of the cooperative gained from their previous workplace are enough to teach farmers and aspiring ones. They are also capable of being resource persons for workshops and seminars relating to coffee farming.
During the pandemic, the members were forced to temporarily stop their production and focused on selling what was left in their storehouse. However, they were able to secure a Php200,000 deal with a business owner in Nueva Vizcaya with their coffee seedlings. Thus, they are looking forward to acquiring more business deals nationwide.
When asked about success, GBMC says providing jobs for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) is part of their success and paying forward. These PWDs are a group of deaf-mute individuals in Calamba City, Laguna who help in sorting coffee seeds that are necessary for quality production. The group was introduced to GBMC by their vice chairman who is also a PWD.
When asked for advice to give to fellow coffee farmers, GBMC shares “kung hindi mo naman din haharapin ang problema, hindi mo naman din malulutas ang problema. Magtanim lang tayo nang magtanim”.
In the future, the cooperative eyes to plant more coffee seeds, introduce new coffee, increase their production, and further widen their market reach. (DTI-Laguna)
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
