𝟵𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧'𝗟 𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦, 𝗨𝗣𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

The municipality of La Trinidad is set to celebrate its Arabica beans during the 9th Coffee Festival with the theme, “Seng-ew ni Kape, Ulnos ni Umidi (Brewing Unity Through Coffee),” this coming February 16 to 20.

With several activities in place, including four new events, the public can expect a grander festival that honors our coffee partners and stakeholders, according to Municipal Agriculturist Nida Organo.

To highlight both our producers and consumers, the local government has prepared the following events:

• Best Coffee Shop of the Year

• Coffee Farm of the Year

• Indigenous Coffee Roasting and Brewing Competition (February 19)

• Coffee Art Painting (February 19)

Alongside this, the La Trinidad Coffee Shop Stakeholders Association Inc. (LTCSSA) has prepared a set of competitions for the locale:

• Latte Art Throwdown (February 17)

• Brewing Competition (February 17)

• Signature Coffee Competition (February 17)

• Coffee Crawl (February 18-20)

Prior to these, the Agriculture Office empowered members of the La Trinidad Arabica Coffee Producers Association (LATACPA) through a training on green bean sorting and grading.

The activity was in partnership with the Society for Cooperation in International Development (SOCODEVI), a Canadian non-profit organization that specializes in strengthening cooperatives and mutual enterprises.

During the opening program on February 18, the Agriculture Office have invited advocates to share their support for our local beans, Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, Vice Governor Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, DOST-Benguet, DTI-CAR, DOT-CAR, DA-CAR, and TESDA-CAR.

Coffee products will also be on display at the municipal park from February 16-22, where free coffee will be served to everyone as long as they carry their own mug.

Moreover, this year’s major highlight will be the renewal of agreement with La Trinidad’s sistertown, Minamimaki, Japan.

Mayor Yoshito Arisaka will be in town to meet with Mayor Roderick Awingan and the rest of the municipal officials.

This continued agreement means that Minamimaki will assist in particular areas such as:

• Technical assistance in agriculture, especially for coffee and strawberries

• Acceptance of young farmers from La Trinidad as trainees

• Exchange of people in a wide range of occupations, not limited to agriculture

• Information exchange

• Exchange of health, environmental conservation, culture, trade, and tourist programs

The contract also signifies the possibility of exporting La Trinidad Arabica beans to Japan.

The festivities end on February 20 as the municipality prepares for the long-awaited Strawberry Festival, which runs from March through April 1.

Author: 𝘙𝘙. 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘢-𝘢𝘺

Original Post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DdfCJFW96/