The proverbial “necessity is the mother of all inventions” appears relevant during this time of the pandemic when hundreds of thousands, if not millions, are displaced from their jobs. Many local businesses, big or small, closed shop since the spread of coronavirus disease early this year.
Eight months since, those who belong to the “no work, no pay” category–construction workers, farmers, skilled labor, drivers, rank and file and the likes– remain hard pressed even when government started to ease restrictions. It may take sometime until the economy will get back on its feet, maybe when most establishments reopen or probably when the COVID-19 vaccine is already within reach of everybody.
But for organic agriculture entrepreneur Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy, Jr. and wife, Francine, taking a “wait-and-see” attitude is not an option. “We have to make the business work. We have to continue supporting our farmers, our store and cafe staff,” he pointed out.
And so, at the 3.5-hectare Fresh Start Organic Farm in Hda. Maquina, Barangay Rizal in Silay City, the farm hands keep themselves busy, propagating salad greens such as lettuce, aragula, and culinary herbs and vegetables, among others.
These fresh, organically-grown produce (thanks to the farm’s commercial scale organic fertilizer facility producing vermicastings and Bokashi) would have been delivered straight to supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and their own store and cafe–the Fresh Start Organic and Natural–located at the Robinson’s Central Citywalk or at SM City Bacolod under normal times.
But because of the “lockdown” and quarantine period, Uy said, they have to re-invent the way they run the business.
Helping the Uy couple is Katerina Dominique Maraňon, Francine’s younger sister, who is in charge of marketing.
With the challenging times far from over and with the Fresh Start stores and outlets no longer enjoying brisk sales like they used to before the health crisis, they thought of venturing into “home delivery”, of bringing their products right on the doorsteps of loyal customers.
SHIFTING STRATEGY
“Our continued production at the farm and the home delivery were ways to reassure the farmers that their jobs are secured. We also want to give our customers easy access to organic and naturally-grown fruits, vegetables and pantry items, while they stay safely in the confines of their homes,” the 38-year-old Uy told Negros Weekly and Negros Now Daily.
A few weeks into the delivery service, he noted, they realized that a significant number of orders were coming from Negrenses and Bacoleňos in Manila and abroad. “They wanted to send farm fresh produce to their families here,” he said.
So, the simple concept of bringing our products to customers in Bacolod and the neighboring cities of Talisay and Silay evolved. Negrenses, who are far from their families wanted to say to their relatives here that they care. And the “Bugana Box” was conceived. It is Fresh Start’s way of making its clients truly special.
BOX OF BOUNTY
“Bugana” is a Hiligaynon word for abundant or plentiful.
So, every “Bugana Box” delivered, Uy said, is our customers’ expression of their love and concern to their parents, relatives or close associates, whom they wanted to gift with healthy, certified organic farm products. “They wanted to send the message that even if they are hundreds of miles away or, are halfway around the world, they can continue to take care of their loved ones; that they are special,” he continued.
Contents of the “Bugana Box” would depend on the customers’ needs. A fully-load, custom made box is P1,500 inclusive of free delivery within Bacolod, Talisay and Silay.
Those who order below that amount will have to pay the specially-crafted box at P250 each.
It’s your choice: you may order a “Bugana Box” containing ingredients for salad greens as Fresh Start Farm produces lettuce varieties–the curly green or green ice, lollo rosa and romaine– as well as kale, aragula and other organic herbs like sweet basil, tarragon, coriander, rosemary, etc.
You may also opt for pantry items such as organic coffee, natural sweeteners, condiments, or try the local cheeses like bastardo, aged cheese, mozarella, parmesan, ricotta. Name it, they have it.
A variety of vegetables and fresh fruits are also available for your “Bugana Box”.
For orders, you may call or send SMS to Mobile No. 0917 713 5444; you may also send a message to @freshstartorganicfarm, @ freshstartorganic, @freshstartorganiccafe. Interested parties may also visit their website www.fresh start organic.com. ETL
