Established in 2005 and is currently one of the top teas and salabat makers in the country, Ginga Agrifood Manufacturing Ent. Inc. stays true to its mission that aspires to manufacture and sell high-quality, all natural products that uses locally-grown ingredients and supports not just locally-made products but also our Filipino farmers.
The blended tea and brew of Ginga uses only pure and natural ingredients in its commitment to upholding a healthy lifestyle. And as they strive to continue to achieve their goal in providing livelihood to the farmers and its community, they partnered with one of the most trusted agricultural group and business who shares the same goals with Ginga, AGREA Philippines.
AGREA is currently working with farmers through agribusiness management, teaching farmers how to be entrepreneurs, guiding them in the cropping production process, as well as providing the farmer’s initial capital to increase their capacity to earn to be able to provide for themselves and their families. AGREA team also educates farmers with the right variety of ginger and turmeric based on the demand of the clients like a market-oriented approach.
Ginga Agrifood manages its own farm based in Lobo, Batangas, Philippines where they harvest most of their raw materials to produce pesticide-free and organic products. And in order to help more farmers across the country aside from the community where their business is located, AGREA will produce most of their ginger and turmeric materials in their own farm which opened in 2014 in the Amana Estate in Cawit, Boac, Marinduque. The AGREA Model Farm was and still is a diversified integrated farm for research, hands-on farming training, vermicomposting facility, and high-value crops production.
The partnership officially came to life last May 16, 2022 at Chef Jessie in Rockwell Club where the contract signing took place. The event was graced by Ms. Lota Lazarte-Manalo, CEO and President of Ginga, Ms. Cherrie Atilano, CEO and Founder of AGREA Philippines, Ms. Charisse Malazarte, Operations Manager of Ginga and the rest of the agricultural business support team.
“Since 2005, our main goal is to produce an all organic and quality brews and teas that are accessible and affordable for everyone. We thrive to give you the best products while securing stable jobs and adequate compensation that our Filipino farmer deserves.
"In the midst of the pandemic, we provided opportunities to our farmers and partners in Lobo, Batangas as part of giving back to the community," Lazarte-Manalo says. "A new chapter unfolds, as we start a partnership AGREA Philippines who shares the same goal and values with us. Thank you, Cherrie Atilano and AGREA for this incredible partnership!
"We continue to promote women empowerment, strive to improve the lives of our farmers, and give opportunities for livelihood in order to achieve our goal – food security.”
Atilano says, "Ecology of Dignity has been a mantra of AGREA social enterprise for the farmers and the food value chain. For eight years, we have been crafting a way on how to uplift the lives of the farmers from poverty in 20 months based on the Philippines economic poverty threshold level. Our
spreadsheet shows and our work on the ground supports and agrees. We develop the formula and trying our very best to set this as a target moving forward.
"We closed a good partner that believes in our cause and wants to co-brand with us to help more farmers, supports environmental sustainability, product traceability and gender-equality in the food and agriculture-sector. Thank you very much to our new partner GingaFood for this journey. This means so much and will unlock more potentials as you grow your brand, we are here to support in making sure your raw materials are of the best quality. Only the best from the Filipino farmers, for the Filipino customers and for the world.
"Through this partnership, we hope to gather a lot of inspiring stories from our thriving women farmers and support them by providing training, capacity-building, and learning opportunities.
"Together, let us help uplift the lives of the farmers and work hand in hand towards achieving food security, gender equality, women and economic empowerment!”