To ensure a continuous and stable market of farmer’s produce, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera and VS Corporation Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding to help the Cordillera farmers market their products and provide a direct link between the farmers and the buyers.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey and Angelo Valdez, President/Co-owner of the FreshBuys signed the MOU on 18 December 2020 at the DA-CAR Conference Hall, Guisad, Baguio City.
FreshBuys is an online market site that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables, and highland products from the mountains of Cordillera to the consumers.
Under the MOU, the DA-CAR and FreshBuys will promote farm to table initiatives including the provision of value-adding seminars and trainings to the farmers.
The DA-CAR is providing technical and administrative support, including connection to farmers’ groups and cooperatives producing specific crops and raw materials needed by farmers’ marketing groups and FreshBuys.
According to Angelo Valdez, FreshBuy President/Co-owner, the initiative aims to help farmers and SMEs in elevating agriculture in the Cordillera while lowering consumer costs in Manila. An agreement with AirAsia Airline Company is also being brewed to deliver in speed highland vegetables to the Visayas and Mindanao.
“We are grateful for the collaboration with DA-CAR and with the private sector as a key to economic recovery especially of having a food secure and resilient Philippines” he stressed.
As of this date, FreshBuys bought from the Cordi farmers about 13,238 kilograms of assorted highland vegetables with a monetary value of about Php200,000.00.
Likewise, Jerry Damoyan, DA-CAR Chief of Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division appreciated the good intention of FreshBuys to help Cordillera farmers as well as in providing access to fresh and affordable food to consumers.
He said that they are expecting more farmers to benefit from this understanding especially during this time of the pandemic. # # # (DA-CAR)
