7 April 2026 – An heirloom coffee variety cultivated by the Talaandig tribe in the mountains of Bukidnon – where 80% of the farmers are women – may soon find its way onto the shelves of specialty coffee shops in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Consul General Emma R. Sarne and Deputy Consul General Victorio Mario M. Dimagiba Jr. met with Ms. Sonia Gonzales, Founder of Grounded Partners Inc (GPI), at the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary on 7 April 2026 to explore a collaboration that would bring Philippine heirloom coffee to the Canadian market.
GPI, incorporated in October 2025 and a member of the Philippine Coffee Alliance, works directly with smallholder coffee farmers and cooperatives in Benguet, Sagada and Bukidnon. Its model centers on traceability and farmer empowerment – training coffee growers in sustainable practices, professional packaging, and pricing so they can compete in premium markets. The Talaandig community in Talakan is currently expanding its cultivation of the rare Ethiopian Landrace variety, planting an additional 5,000 trees.
GPI’s ambition is to produce fully single-origin Philippine coffee – a goal that requires moving farmers away from the current practice of mixing varieties during harvest, something the company is actively addressing through structured upskilling of Filipino farmers and advanced international training.
The company plans to conduct a coffee-tasting event in Calgary to introduce Philippine heirloom coffee to consumers and understand local taste preferences. The event will also showcase other GPI offerings such as the popular ube from Bohol. END
