Rice always has a place at the Filipino table. But for millions of Filipinos living with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, one of the country's most familiar staples can also become one of its most difficult foods to navigate.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 4.7 million Filipino adults are living with diabetes, with that number projected to reach 7.5 million by 2045. Hypertension and diabetes also remain among the leading causes of chronic kidney disease in the country, making everyday food choices an important part of long-term health management.

Organic Options saw an opportunity to rethink that everyday staple, creating rice products that can support more deliberate food choices while still fitting the meals Filipinos know and love.

Founded in 2001 by Mike and Malou Melendres, Organic Options began as an organic farm before growing into a distributor that now supplies more than 75 supermarkets nationwide. From the start, the company focused on safe food, responsible production, and products that answer real needs in Filipino households.

For Organic Options, food should be clean, safe, and healthy. That simple philosophy has guided the company for the past 25 years, influencing how its products are grown and produced and the innovations it pursues. As Filipino consumers become more mindful of their health, the company has continued to explore new ways to make everyday food support better nutrition without sacrificing familiarity.

As the business grew, Organic Options began exploring what they call "functional food", food developed to provide nutrition and support specific health needs. For the company, it was a natural extension of its commitment to safe food: creating products that could help people make more informed choices without straying too far from the meals they already enjoyed.

Few foods are as deeply woven into Filipino culture as rice. It is present at nearly every meal, making it one of the hardest foods to replace for people managing conditions such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Rather than asking consumers to give up a familiar staple altogether, Organic Options set out to rethink rice itself, creating alternatives that better support different dietary needs while remaining part of everyday Filipino meals.

They partnered with BiotechJP, a Japanese company with a processing facility in Tarlac, to develop ready-to-eat rice products for people with specific dietary requirements, like those with chronic kidney disease. The collaboration brought together Organic Options’ understanding of Filipino food habits with BiotechJP's expertise in functional rice technology to develop products suited to the local market while maintaining the familiarity of one of the country's most essential staples.

The result is a range of functional rice products designed to support different dietary needs. Echigo is a low-protein rice for people managing protein intake, including those with kidney-related dietary needs. Gohan Lite is a low-carb rice for people watching their carbohydrate intake, meant for those managing diabetes or pre-diabetes. Rise4U offers ready-to-eat meals for people looking for convenient options on busy days.

For Mike and Malou, the goal was never to replace rice, but to give Filipino families more choices that fit their changing health needs.

“Rice is part of everyday life for Filipino families. We wanted to create options that could stay on the table while supporting people who are becoming more mindful of their health and nutrition. Our goal is to make these choices easier, more familiar, and more accessible,” shared Mike and Malou Melendres.

Creating healthier food options is only part of the challenge. Ensuring people can easily access them is just as important – especially when it comes to food for those with specific dietary needs. For the millions of Filipinos affected by chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, maintaining a healthier diet often begins with having access to the right options. Functional food products can support healthier food choices, but they are often found only in specialty retailers or larger urban centers, making them difficult for many Filipino families to purchase.

Recognizing this gap, Organic Options expanded through Shopee to make its functional rice range, pantry essentials, and natural food products easier to discover and purchase beyond physical stores. Today, customers from across the country can access these products through the platform and find healthier alternatives without having to visit specialty stores, helping bridge an important gap in everyday nutrition.

For many households, managing chronic conditions means making careful decisions about everyday meals. Organic Options aims to make those decisions easier by offering products that fit naturally into familiar routines. Families can continue enjoying rice with home-cooked ulam, pack it for lunch, or choose a ready-to-eat meal, making healthier eating feel less like a major lifestyle change and more like a sustainable part of daily life.

For Organic Options, innovation has always been about making healthier choices practical for everyday Filipino households. By reimagining one of the country's most familiar staples and making it more accessible through Shopee, the company is helping healthier choices become part of daily life rather than something reserved for specialty stores.

Watch Grit Expectations, the docuseries by FEATR presented by Shopee Kultura+, to discover Organic Options’ story and meet other Filipino enterprises growing their reach through Shopee.