Conner grower leads Apayao’s first coffee quality tilt

The first Apayao Coffee Quality Competition closed on February 27 at the Apayo Agro-Industrial Trade and Tourism Fair Grounds with local growers seeing their beans tested in the cup and tested in the market.

Organized by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Apayao, the event put the spotlight on quality. Entries went through sensory grading, with scores determining classification and final ranking. The top four lots were then opened to bidding in a green coffee bean auction.

Marilou Taltala of Barangay Ili, Conner topped the field with a score of 81.75, earning a Fine Coffee mark and the P10,000 first prize. Her entry, listed as Lot 4, commanded the day’s highest price at P800 per kilo, bought by Engr. Mark Jan Galleon of the Apayao Sustainable Cacao Alliance.

Agapito Lacbao of Guinamgaman, Conner placed second after scoring 80, also under the Fine Coffee category. His Lot 3 coffee sold at P570 per kilo to Revina Cambod of Okatako Pasalubong Center.

Third place went to Rogelio Taguban of Barangay Karagawan, Kabugao with a score of 79, tagged as Premium Coffee. Lot 2 was bid up to P410 per kilo and taken by Gilbert Chan of Hilltop Hardware.

Ganal Sagli of Barangay Ninoy Aquino, Calanasan finished fourth, likewise scoring 79 under the Premium Coffee bracket. Lot 1 was sold at P400 per kilo to Akisha’s Coffee.

Consolation prizes worth P2,000 each were awarded to Josephine Vidal (Kabugao), Eduardo Tallong (Pudtol), and Lily Jane Balyao (Kabugao).

The green coffee bean auction, conducted through open bidding among local buyers, underscored the growing market interest in high-grade Apayao coffee. For participating farmers, the competition served as both a quality benchmark and a direct link to buyers willing to pay premium prices for well-processed beans.

Through initiatives like this, DTI Apayao continues to push for improved standards and better market positioning for the province’s coffee growers.