Press Release
November 24, 2007

Gordon Initiative with Nescafe Graduates
First Batch of Mindanao Coffee Farmers

Sen. Dick Gordon, Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, congratulated the first batch of graduates of a coffee growing seminar organized by the Red Cross Fruits of Hope (FOH) program and its partner Nestle Philippines in Tagum City, Davao del Norte held last November 14-16, 2007.

A total of 36 farmers and agriculturists from Sulu, North Cotabato, and Bukidnon participated in the three day seminar at the Nestle Experimental and Demo Farm in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. The coffee training seminar is part of the FOH program which endeavors to provide livelihood opportunities for people living in provinces suffering from the stigma of being branded as 'warzones'.

Participants of the Fruits of Hope coffee growing training seminar were surprised to be congratulated via a text message sent by Senator Gordon straight from Geneva, Switzerland where he is attending a meeting with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies where he also serves as the first Filipino Governor. Gordon also expressed hopes that the training they received will enable them to improve the production of their coffee plantations and thereby help increase their earnings.

Through the training given by Nestle Philippines, farmers are taught the importance of good plantation management, which includes weeding, fertilizing, application of compost or organic fertilizer and pruning, as well as proper harvesting and post-harvest processing method. Nestle has likewise expressed its commitment to buy coffee from Sulu and other Mindanao provinces, saying that its demand for coffee beans is so huge that the country's coffee farmers can only supply about 50 to 60 percent of the beans it needs.

Senator Gordon, as Red Cross Chairman, initiated the Fruits of Hope program to help alleviate the suffering of people living in areas mislabeled as warzones. After his visit to Sulu and Basilan at the height of hostilities between government forces and armed groups in Basilan, Gordon convinced major supermarkets to buy fruits from farmers in Sulu and North Cotabato. A total of 16 tons of assorted fruits were hauled to Manila and delivered to major supermarket chains where it sold out in less than an hour. The Red Cross Fruits of Hope program has partnered with the Philippine Air Force, Asia America Initiative, the Provincial Government of Sulu, the Provincial Government of North Cotabato, Rustans, SM, Nestle Philippines, Negros Navigation, Sulpicio Lines, Vintel Logistics, NAMVESCO, and other organizations.

The next leg of the coffee training seminar will be held on November 22, 2007 at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City with farmers and agriculturists from Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte expected to participate. (END)

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