Farmers hopes to supply supermarket retail chain

THE Benguet Farmers’ Cooperative is hoping to supply the chain of Puregold stores nationwide.

Governor Nestor Fongwan said talks with the supermarket retail chain are underway next week to discuss how produce can be supplied by the province.

Fongwan said the cooperative hopes to become a regular supplier of the Puregold chain.

The cooperative has been on regular trips to the lowlands since last month, ferrying vegetables twice a week to the high end market.

Fongwan said, “Trips have been regular; we are finding more and more areas to supply.”

Fongwan said the aim of the cooperative is to penetrate the groceries and other outlets for vegetables, leaving the wet markets for other merchants to supply.

The cooperative with a membership of over 1,000 farmers in the province aim to uplift their way of life as well as spur economic growth for the province.

Benguet vegetables supply 70 percent of market needs in the country while various trading posts in the Valley and are known as next most popular tourist destination after nearby Baguio City.

Last year, Puregold opened in La Trinidad opening 300 jobs for locals. Puregold is engaged in wholesale and retail. Its retail stores are strategically located across Metro Manila, Central Luzon and CAR.