Cotabato mango farmers have achieved a major milestone with their largest shipment to date—20 tons of fresh green mangoes—delivered to one of the country's top fruit processors, according to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on Tuesday.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said the mangoes, harvested by members of the Cotabato Mango Growers and Producers Cooperative, were shipped to Cavite-based KLT Fruits Inc. on June 5. The deal marks the first direct trading partnership between Cotabato growers and a national buyer.
"This isn't just a delivery—it's a breakthrough," Magno said. "By cutting out middlemen and empowering cooperatives, farmers gain more."
KLT Fruits purchased the mangoes at premium farmgate prices, with no haggling and prompt payments. "The system was simple and transparent," said KLT purchasing manager Benedict Ella, adding that the company plans to source up to one million kilograms of green mangoes from Mindanao this year.
Facilitated by MinDA with support from the Midsayap local government, the initiative is part of a broader push to establish direct trade links, including mango puree processing and permanent buying hubs across Mindanao.
"This is what inclusive agribusiness looks like—treating farmers as partners, not just suppliers," Magno emphasized.
The effort supports the Marcos administration's goal of a more inclusive and food-secure agricultural sector, while advancing MinDA's "Building a Better Mindanao" campaign focused on sustainable, farmer-led trade models.
