April 30, 2010, 3:01pm
Le Bistro which operates coffee shops at the airport makes sure that it offers its customers what it calls sustainable coffees sourced from small farms around the country. For this purpose, Lot Tan, operator of Le Bistro Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, has asked Chit Juan to source all their coffee requirements from the small farms.

Ms. Juan, president of the Philippine Coffee Board, was only too happy to oblige and has been going around the country searching for the kind of coffee that Le Bistro needs. She recently went to Benguet where she found small communities that are still producing their old-time coffee varieties. Their harvests are paid a high price so that they are encouraged to plant more.

Because the coffee shops are located at the airport, it is the first stop for coffee of tourists and balikbayans and also their last stop upon their departure. That is why the Le Bistro operators say they have to be particular about the quality of the coffee that they serve. They want the tourists to have a good impression of Philippine coffees.

Chit Juan adds that “It is our mission not only to do good business but to give pride to our Filipino farmers by serving their coffees to special customers.”

The other Le Bistro variant is Le Bistro Vert (The Green Bistro) in Fraser Place, Salcedo Village where besides coffee, the rest of the menu is centered on sustainable foods. Visit www.lebistro.ph for more information.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/255320/benguet-coffee-demand