CACAO: Money Tree

The #FilipinoAromatico® has slowly emerged as the most sought after single origin cacao in the Philippines. Thanking old cacao trees that grew in backyards across the country, and harvesting the pods to create hard to replicate nutty tones, the Filipino Aromatico is here to stay.

Did you know that during the 1700s these fruit pod’s beans were used as a currency? Soon after, the indios during that time just planted some seeds all over the place and forgot about it. After several years, it grew and started to bear fruits. The money tree as they have called it, brought business, and food.

Now that the Filipino farmer knows better, a cacao producer association took the initiative to care for these trees which bore GOLD — Plantacion de Sikwate Cacao Producers Association, Inc. (PDS).

From traditional farming techniques, PDS has come up with modern techniques to educate farmers that they too, can grow their own money trees just like of the yesteryears.

More and more cacao farmers who are now enjoying the fruits of their labor has started creating their tablea products. The world awaits of their produce. The world knows that the Philippines is indeed a single-origin country when it comes to CACAO.

Be a farmer, call us for assistance, and in no time, harvest from your Filipino Aromatico money trees.

From Samar with 🤎

CHOCS ‘N BOXES

“Thank you Mr. Mel Santos and the @plantaciondesikwate for offering us scions from traditional Philippine criollo cacao varieties, you’ve done a great job of keeping our national flavor alive.

This particular Criollo variety was first brought to the Philippines by Spanish friars, a reminder of early colonial times but rather than being lost the remnants have been well preserved and is now being propagated throughout the archipelago.

Everything would not have been possible without Nestor Saludo who spearheaded the grafting of these Criollo varieties into our own cacao rootstocks. ⁣
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criollocacao #dairyfree #directtrade #philippinecacao #ethicallysourced #finechocolate #beantobar #glutenfree #healthychocolate #hotcocoa #localbusiness #organic #organicchocolate #beantobarchocolate #sugarfree #sugarfreelife #treetobarchocolate #veganchocolate

2023 Cacao Planting Book

Thank you for spending time to read this post. Our first book entitled CACAO PLANTING: Best Practices from Farming to Gardening was launched 2023. It is available for orders.

Coming up with this book was always a dream. There are reading materials from our friends that has over 300 pages but it would be better if the location was made in the Philippines. May incusive feelings. Dba? Para sa atin ito. 

Several friends from our cacao community has requested seminars and mini speaking events. However, our PDS group decided to immortalize the learnings that you can always refer to when you have questions.

GRASSHOPPER INFESTATION: What to Do?

Insecticides are the first things most farmers reach for when their crops get infested with pod borers/insects.

Usually the recommended quick fix is to use Magnum or Karate pesticides. The proportions is 1 tbs. per 16liters water in a knapsack.

GOING THE NATURAL WAY

All-Purpose Flour

An unusual but effective solution, all-purpose flour will become sticky when grasshoppers try to consume it, causing their mouthparts to gum up and starve the critters.

Simply sprinkle a thin layer on the leaves of your plants, and make sure it isn’t another type of flour (many kinds of flour contain salt, which can harm your plants.)

Garlic or Hot Pepper Spray

Spritzing some hot pepper repellent spray on the leaves of your plants will make them unpalatable to grasshoppers. The downside is that you could find that tomato is a lot spicier if you fail to wash it thoroughly!

Garlic sprays are a similarly natural grasshopper repellent but may be preferable if you plan on consuming part of the plant later.

** It is your choice. The faster way with harmful drawbacks to the environment or a longer alternative.

PDS Cacao Planting eBook 2023

#ICYMI – CACAO PLANTING –  BEST PRACTICES FROM FARMING TO URBAN GARDENING PDS 2023 eBook Launch happened last June 17, 2023.

The pre-launching feelers began February 1, 2023. All designs and content were made in house by PDS CEO Mel Santos and Media & Marketing Director Mia Concepcion.

Now the easy-read eBook has over 160 pages worth of information on different topics related to cacao planting.

Different farmer associates were featured and   shared their best practices in growing the Filipino Aromatico/Criollo variety. They also shared their stumble-blocks and how they overcame such challenge.

Priced at P500, the eBook includes new farming protocols that will surely guide starting farmers. Since caring begins at cacao seedling stage, there are detailed steps, and measurements in the building of a nursery. A must-buy for everyone in the cacao industry.

Place your order/s by messaging us in the PDS inbox or email us at PDSCACAO@GMAIL.COM
Subject: PDS EBOOK
Body:
Name
Address
Mobile #
# of Copies
Payment via GCash/BPI
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FEEDBACK:


Carmen, Manila-based Professor: Hi, I read it and found it to be an informative book. Clear and detailed! It’s a nice concept/style of a book of that kind. Creative, innovative, well-researched, well-backed up by the authorities in the industry. I was amazed how our traditions are still alive and continue to live on in this generation. CONGRATULATIONS!

Lita, Start-Up farm owner, Bulacan: I know nothing about planting cacao. The reason I want to learn about it is that my relatives have started their seedling farm and are earning a lot from it. I have my piece of land I inherited from my parents. The information was easy to understand. I learned new things about planting Criollo. Good thing my relatives can show me the hands-on part to fully understand the process. Thank you for a good read. Thumbs-Up!


“So that was the book you were so busy working on. I read a chapter, kept going until I saw the closing! Mia, you know I only read a paragraph to know if it was worth the time. I could not stop! Educating, and definitely creative.” – Brian, Parañaque


“Thank you Mel for opening my mind to the importance of Cacao Planting! I am ready to prepare my land with the coconuts, and bananas then I will buy the grafted seedlings. – Joe, Calamba