Cebu Agri Food Summit 2025 bears fruit with farmers B2B connect

CEBU CITY – The San Antonio Farmers’ Association in Boljoon (SAFAB) secured a supply agreement with an established restaurant chain--the Nonki Japanese Restaurant in Mandaue City, for the steady supply of assorted agricultural produce for the restaurant’s daily needs.

“The first-ever Cebu Agri Konek Food Summit 2025 has definitely bore fruits with farmers finding business-to-business (B2B) connections. Farmers also received mentorship on financing, pricing, and compliance to help them connect directly with institutional buyers,” noted Benedict Que, Overall Chair of the Food Summit, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Champion for Agriculture and president of Golden Prince Hotel and Suites.

Organized by the Philippine Inno Ventures Agriculture Cooperative (PIVAC) in collaboration with CCCI, DA-Central Visayas (DA7), Province of Cebu, and the City of Cebu, the summit builds resilient food systems by connecting farmers directly with buyers and empowering them with the tools to thrive, Que said.

On September 1, Que with SAFAB president, Johnny Cairo were present during the group’s first delivery of over 206 kilos of cabbage and bundles of spring onions to Nonki Japanese Restaurant in Mandaue City with Chrislee Arong, Nonki’s vice president for general kitchen receiving the orders.

Nonki Restaurant already expressed demand for a wider range of fresh produce, including carrots, pechay, eggplant, garlic, ginger, lettuce, cucumber, radish, okra, parsley, potato, squash, tomato, onions, calamansi, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, and lakatan bananas, among others, Que bared in an interview with this writer.

According to Dr. Roldan Saragena, provincial agriculturist, this development already shows Cebuano farmers are now moving beyond traditional market selling and venturing into institutional supply partnerships.  He called on more institutional buyers to patronize local farm produce to further encourage farmers to increase production.

Capitol also reported that a popular shake brand is negotiating supply of lemonade from Dumanjug farmers, while a well-established bakery chain has requested various agricultural products to be sourced locally.

Que bared that there are now several businesses discussing with PIVAC on more possible direct B2B connections with local farmers.  On September 4, a group of Taiwanese businessmen were here in Cebu and connecting with him for B2B networking. (Photos: FB-Golden Prince Hotel & Suites)