Winners of the Arabica category were recognized during the first Northern Mindanao Coffee Quality Competition.

NORTHERN MINDANAO — Seven farmers from Pangantucan, Bukidnon were awarded for their quality coffee beans during the first Northern Mindanao Coffee Quality Competition. The awarding was held in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last March 18, 2023.

Manolito Garces of New Eden, Pangantucan, Bukidnon placed first for his Arabica coffee beans with

87.13% rating. Certified Q Graders in the competition noted the beans with reminders of raisin, blueberry, winey, cherry, plum, berries, mango, and floral.

Cupping notes are standard descriptors used by Q Graders, professionals trained to be capable in scoring the quality of roasted coffees, in creating a sensory-rich picture of a coffee during its cupping process.

The remaining winners in the Arabica category are: Aiza Inahan of Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon for second place; Arnold Pina of Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon for third place; Marion Inahan of Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon for fourth place; MILALITTRA Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (MILFACO) of Talakag, Bukidnon for fifth place; and Aurora Chiong of Claveria, Misamis Oriental for sixth place.

Four winners from the Top 5 Best Robusta hailed from Pangantucan, Bukidnon.

Meanwhile, Primitiva Mahumot still from Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon won first place in the Robusta category. With a rating 84.38%, the coffee beans’ cupping notes are apple, honey, yellow cherry, grapefruit, unripe mulberry, pineapple, clove, and molasses.

Additional winners who are from Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon include Ranel Balatero in second place and Marvin Dagohoy in fourth place.  

Noel Duyongan from Kibenton, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon placed third while Dennis Ong from Claveria, Misamis Oriental placed fifth in the Robusta Category.  

The Regional Coffee Quality Competition aims to identify and promote the best quality coffee in Northern Mindanao. It evaluates, assesses, and provides a platform to showcase the variety of the region’s quality coffee.

The competition was held on March 14-17, 2023 at the Coffee Cupping Laboratory of Central Mindanao University (CMU), Bukidnon.

Twenty-one Arabica and Robusta coffee beans from Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental were submitted as official entries.

The competition was organized by the Regional Coffee Council of Region 10, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10, Rural Agro-enterprise Partnerships for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project, ACDI/VOCA Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE), Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project, Peace & Equity Foundation, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and CMU. ♦

Date of Release: 20 March 2023