From Rugged Roads to Fresh Brews: A Labour Day Tribute to Coffee Farmers and Their Horses in Davao

Horses have played a significant role in the coffee farms in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

Today is Labour Day in North America, and timely to spotlight all the hard work from farmers (and animals!) so that we can all enjoy specialty coffee every day.

Let’s take you behind the scenes into some of the happenings during coffee post-harvest season in Bansalan, Davao del Sur:

The peak of coffee harvest happens once a year, and after the meticulous tasks of coffee cherry picking, processing, drying, milling, and sorting, coffee beans are all packed in jute sacks, waiting to be transported to their destinations.

In the heart of Davao in Southern Philippines, farmers have relied on rugged farm roads to transport their precious green coffee beans. Traditionally, horses have been the trusty companions for these trips, navigating challenging terrain with care and precision.

Horses carried sacks of coffee in the long, uphill, and winding paths of this farming community, often taking long hours to deliver the beans to the centre of town to make it to market or trading posts. These noble animals have been the lifeline for farmers, turning a difficult journey into a testament of perseverance and partnership.

But change has been brewing, with recent road developments paving the way for smoother, faster travel. With these new surfaced roads, farmers can now get their beans to market quicker, preserving quality and boosting their income.

Ate Marivic, one of the coffee pioneers in Bansalan, shared that they see this has impacted how fast their coffees can get to the city.

While we can’t help but feel nostalgic about the horses, the farmers have welcomed this change as it meant fresher coffee and a brighter future for the farming community.

And this is just getting the coffee outside of the farm! Sacks of green, unroasted coffee are then loaded onto pallets that get onboard shipping containers, travelling for many weeks and sometimes months to make it to ports all over the world.

By choosing farm-direct, sustainable coffee, you're not just savouring a great brew; you're supporting ethical practices that ensure farmers build a meaningful livelihood.