SITIO NAGUEY, ATOK, BENGUET

MUNICIPALITY + PROVINCE + REGION

Atok, Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region

ELEVATION

1,100 to 1,300 MASL

VARIETIES GROWN

Garnica, Red Bourbon, San Ramon, Typica, Mundo Novo

PROCESSING METHOD

Washed and Natural

Sitio Naguey is a sub-sitio of Belis. Kalsada developed these two communities simultaneously, primarily because they’re only 800 meters away from each other. Since most of our initial funding went to developing Sitio Belis, we made do in Naguey by initially processing coffee using the natural method, necessitating less equipment.

Though the distance between Belis and Naguey is less than a kilometer, the road that connects them has steep inclines, making logistics a challenge. To reach the central Belis mill, Naguey farmers who wanted to sell their cherries had to haul their harvest and walk through sloping dirt roads.

Eventually, thanks to partners’ recommendations, we created a washing station and a more permanent drying house in Naguey. Because of this adjustment in our operations, Naguey farmers are able to spend more time harvesting and processing their coffee.

With our recent expansion, we are now able to do the washed method here, with our partners increasing to 16 from nine. Our 2023 harvest yielded four tons in Sitio Naguey.