If you want Baguio farm fresh produce but cannot travel to the northern Philippines, then this is the way – download the Session Groceries mobile app. Session Groceries delivers fresh fruits, vegetables, and other harvests from the farms of Benguet straight to your doorstep.
The Baguio-based online store started delivering to Baguio households in 2018. It has since expanded its coverage to Metro Manila, Cavite, and Laguna.
Good News Pilipinas interviewed Session Groceries co-owner Iloisa Romaraog about the social enterprise and its advocacy to help farmers.
READ The success story of social enterprise Malagos cacao farm chocolates.
The social enterprise has made it their mission to help farmers fetch better prices for harvests than what they usually receive from traditional markets. Session Groceries provides ways for them to reach their market through online selling.
Session Groceries started home deliveries outside Baguio when the online store relaunched in February 2019.
STORE EXPANSION
Good News Pilipinas (GNP):
How were you able to expand the Session Groceries market beyond Baguio?
Iloisa Romaraog (IR):
“We need to relaunch para one step back check namin saan ba dapat mga ayusin – we need to do things right para hindi masala customer at magawa pa din namin ng tama para sa mga farmers na umaasa sa program, mga worker, and iba pang suppliers.
(We need to relaunch to step back and see what needed fixing so we could do things right for the customers and the farmers, workers, and suppliers who were depending on the program.)
“Maganda naman response ng market may mga customer kami na every week na umoorder. May mga nagtetest lang din naman. Pero mas dumadami customer per week so I guess we’re doing the right thing.
(The response has been good. We have customers who order weekly, some who just want to try it out. We are getting more customers every week so I guess we’re doing the right thing.)”
CHECK OUT Various farm produce from the Philippines showcased in trade fairs.
PARTNERING WITH FARMERS
GNP:
How are your farmer suppliers coping with the increasing demand for their farm fresh produce?
IR:
“Nagplaplan sila ngayon ng greenhouse para makasupply sila sa atin ng year round.
(They are planning to create greenhouses so they can supply year round.)”
The Session Groceries co-owner revealed to GNP how the social enterprise has helped their farmer suppliers: one has been able to send his children to school, another was encouraged to sustain their family farm, yet another learned how to be an entrepreneur.
MORE DELIVERIES
GNP: What are your next targets for expansion?
IR: Pampanga and Bulacan by October. Pero need muna namin macheck kung makaminimum 200 clients a week.
(But we need to first check if we can get a minimum of 200 clients a week.)
The Session Groceries mobile application is available for download on android.
IOS users can order through Google forms.
TELL US in the comments below if you want your Baguio farm fresh produce delivered to your doorstep!
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