The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest producers of coconuts, ranking second largest exporter in the industry across the globe. However, the coconut industry is facing major challenges today. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority, 20% of the country’s coconut trees are senile. Coco Mama, the country’s leading local gata brand, vows to help ease this problem as it launches the “Save Our Coconuts” project.
Coco Mama’s “Save Our Coconuts” project commits to distributing 100,000 quality coconut seedlings in a span of five years to replace aging trees, providing lasting income to smallholder Filipino coconut farmers. The project aims to contribute to the overall effort to revitalize the Philippine coconut industry.
“Through Coco Mama’s ‘Save Our Coconuts’ project, we make our commitment to provide quality seedlings to smallholder farmer communities in the region. After all, our mission has always been to delight consumers whenever they prepare classic Filipino gata recipes, and part of this delight is in knowing that the brand they love is also doing its part in helping the coconut farmers,” said Coco Mama Marketing Director, Mr. Bryan Lingan.
Launched on World Coconut Day in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Coco Mama held a tree planting activity with its brand ambassador Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, together with the help and support of representatives from the Philippine Coconut Authority, City Environment and Natural Resources Office – General Santos City, Local Government Unit of General Santos City, Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc., and coconut farmers.
Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo is honored and thankful to be part of the campaign. She said, “Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that the things we consume daily, like gata, come from the efforts of our hard-working farmers. With the ‘Save Our Coconuts’ project, I am not only able to promote our traditional and nutritious gata dishes to Filipino households but also to make a difference in the lives of the people who help harvest the food we put to the table for our families.”
Coco Mama’s “Save Our Coconuts” Project is part of the brand’s efforts to contribute to the Philippine Coconut Authority’s bigger mission of rehabilitating the coconut industry and uplifting the lives of the coconut farmers.
For more information, please visit /CocoMamaPhilippines on Facebook or @cocomamaph on Instagram for more updates.