“Kaya Natin Tapatan Ang Mga Imported Na Produkto!”

Yesterday, when Japanese Restaurant owner and chef Alexander Sebastian gave a positive review of green “Edamame” Soybeans grown in Kidapawan City, I felt proud having proven that given a break and support needed, the Filipino farmer could produce world-class quality agricultural products.
Alex, an international chef who is married to a Kidapaweña, described the young Soybeans for “Edamame” as having the same quality as those which are imported.
The big difference which would give the locally produced “Edamame” the great edge over the imported beans would be the price.
Imported “Edamame” which is brought to the Philippines as frozen products fetch as much as P700 per kilo while we are only looking at P400 per kilo for the locally grown Soybeans.
The Cotabato Soybeans Story could serve as a model of how continued research and market surveys could help Filipino farmers improve the quality of their products and identify commodities needed by the market.
Although the commercial production of the “Edamame” from Kidapawan City, Cotabato would not start until mid-2025, it is now time to thank those who supported the Soybeans Production Program which I started two years ago.
My American friend, Coby Kriegshauser of Hereford, Texas who sent me the Soybeans seeds, my Batangueño friend German Panghulan who supported the Soybeans research and trials, Chef Alex Sebastian who now serves as our link to the market and the boys in the farm who worked hard to make sure that we successfully propagate the seeds from Texas.
We also acquired seeds of Soybeans varieties from India through Green and Grow Teknologies and from Canada with the help of follower Joel Quiait.
Most of all, we thank God for these blessings for the Filipino farmers.
#KayaItoNgPilipino!
(First photo shows blanched and salted Edamame prepared by Chef Alex Sebastian while the second photo shows the fresh Soybeans harvested from our farm.)