The Alcala Onion Rice Corn Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AORCGMPC) is the Pangasinan-based supplier of the white onions used in Jollibee’s burgers and Greenwich’s pizzas. When the world was struck by the global pandemic, many were affected, with AORCGMPC being no exception. Despite that, they soldiered on.

Among Alcala’s challenges were securing farming supplies and buyers. They turned to innovation to solve their problems. 

A shortage of fertilizer was remedied by instead using vermicast, which is material earthworms pass through their digestive tract. This is known to enhance soil and provide good fertilizer for farming. The farmers also used organic fertilizer derived from animal waste to keep their crops healthy.

Thanks to Alcala’s involvement in Jollibee Group Foundation’s (JGF) Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), the farmers are assured of steady buyers even amid such an unsure economic landscape. On average, Jollibee buys 20% of its annual vegetable needs from smallholder farmers.

Through the capacity-building programs of FEP, farmers—described  as “crucial in achieving food security during the pandemic” by JGF executive director Gisela Tiongson—are able to better cope with the present circumstances.

When JGF called for partners to help distribute food packs to families affected by the pandemic, AORCGMPC readily responded to help communities near their area.

And AORCGMPC continues extending aid to others. In 2020, they raised money to donate to the relief efforts for Typhoon Ulysses, and handed over sacks of rice to the agriculture department of Region I.