Maawi Organic Farms Meets Zac Sarian

After Zac Sarian's interest in our Sunshines, capons and Zacsess stories :), we had been visiting our regular growers.

Farm visit #2 is Maawi Organic Farms in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Very close to my heart, as Alaminos is where my roots started.

After the radio program and breakfast, March16...as Zac entered the vehicle, he asked in jest to make sure that there was an AM radio working. Why? Boxing! We didn't stop for meals, got to Lucap when the bout was on it's last two rounds, so we stayed inside the car :)

Good thing we knew who won....then we had lunch of assorted inihaw of seafoods and of course Alaminos longganisa. There was no arorosep. It would have been perfect.

Headed to Maawi Farms of Jocelyn and David. As usual, I documented the farm visit...taking photos of the picture takings and interviews.


The vegetables and fruits are grown organically, so are the Tilapias. We spent a lot of time under the shade of the trees and taking in fresh air.

Next stop was where the Sunshines are...before the sun sets :)

First batch of Maawi was in April2007, loading 1000 regularly. Since they were neophytes and not based in the Philippines when they started, they didn't have any market for their dressed chickens at that time.

I encouraged them to dress the males and keep the females. For one, the males were heavier and commanded a higher price. But the best reason was #2.....they will be the only ones who will have eggs from ranging Sunshines come October2007, perfect time for the Agrilink2007.

As we were talking last weekend, she saw the light to that difficult first steps in marketing and that yes, she is the only one now with eggs from ranging Sunshines, on commercial quantity. They are now thankful that her 2nd batch of layers have started to drop.

Now supplying several hotels, delis and restaurants with her organic fruits, vegetables, dressed chickens and of course eggs.

Watch out for farm visit #3

Maawi Farms Gaining Ground

We are very pleased with the development of Maawi Farms in her Sunshines.

To date, they are delivering dressed Sunshines to Manila Peninsula, Intercon, Manila Pavilion, Bizu and Green Daisy. For the table eggs, they are supplying Santi's, Bizu, Green Daisy, Camp Farm (when they can't meet demand of their client) and the stall at Legaspi Village Weekend Market.

They have several other delis and restaurants lined up to add to their roster of clients.

Marketing never ceases. We, as supplier gives full support to our Sunshine growers.

Maawi Organic Vegetable & Chicken Farm

When the idea of going to Alaminos, Pangasinan was brought up at 6am...I said "YES"!

This is where half of my roots are from.

We left AANI QC Circle at 9am. Got to Sausalito for lunch a little after 1pm. Those two pictures were taken from the food place.

Jocelyn and David did well with the farms. The chicken farm is separate from the organic vegetables, so biosecurity is better.

There are five poultry houses. Good we went there as from initial photos sent, I thought the buildings were elevated. Nope, they were built on the ground, so no expense for flooring. The side doors open straight to range areas and kept open for the chickens to go in and out during the day.

There was a time they decided to experiment and got some chickens from another supplier. Mortality was high and they were not as resistant to diseases as the Sunshines.

We were brought to the vegetable farm also. I took so many photos, but I don't know how my digital could have gotten them over exposed. Good the video came out well.

No pesticides used here.

They have always aimed to create a niche in the 2.5kilos and over, chickens. Keeping standards to harvesting at 85-90days minimum. Slowly they are getting their footprints in the market.

The eggs from her uncaged Sunshines are being taken by a French patisserie with several branches in Manila. A couple of hotels have called them back after they submitted samples, a large chain is making an initial order.

Jocelyn and David are enjoying doing the rounds selling their chickens and vegetables that they are proud of.