The demand for healthier food options is rising, driven by an increasing number of health-conscious consumers. According to a survey by Food Industry Asia, eight out of ten Filipino consumers are becoming more health conscious and prefer healthier food choices as long as they are tasty.
This growing awareness of the importance of a healthy diet presents a substantial market opportunity for unique, tasty, and nutritious crops like East-West Seed’s hybrid Morado F1 purple sweet waxy corn.
With its vibrant color, anthocyanin content, sweetness, and potential to increase income, the Morado presents an enticing opportunity for Filipino farmers.
Morado can provide farmers with a consistent income opportunity throughout the year as it is suitable to be planted all year round. It is also an early-maturing corn variety – farmers can harvest within 60 to 62 days after planting, enabling them to sell their produce to the market sooner.
Morado stands out not only for its vibrant purple hue but also for its ear quality. The kernels are soft and tender and stay sweet two days after harvest.
Another remarkable attribute of Morado is its high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are the natural compounds responsible for the purple color of Morado. Studies have shown that anthocyanins possess antioxidant properties, offering numerous health benefits. These include reducing inflammation and preventive potential against cancer. Research also suggests that anthocyanins may be beneficial to the gut, contributing to the overall improvement of health. Morado’s anthocyanin content makes it an appealing choice for health-conscious consumers.
Levi Llaneta, a farmer from Albay who planted the Morado shared, “Morado is very easy to sell in the market. Our buyers always look for Morado because it’s sweet, sticky, and has health benefits.”
Mike Paragozo, a farmer from Agusan del Sur, also attests to Morado’s potential to increase income. He shared that the market value of Morado commands a premium, with prices ranging from 50 to 80 pesos per kilo, compared to other corn varieties.
From Mike’s experience, customers are willing to purchase Morado, regardless of size and higher price, as they prioritize the health benefits it offers.
“Every week, we plant 1-2 kg of Morado to ensure a continuous supply,” says Mike. This consistent planting approach enables him to meet the growing demand for this unique crop and capitalize on its market potential. Mike also shared that it is easy to grow Morado. He proudly mentions, “From my experience, Morado has a high germination rate at around 95%. It is also strong against diseases.”
The uniqueness and versatility of Morado also open up various marketing avenues for farmers like Mike. He shares, “Morado can be sold to processors of corn coffee, fresh markets, or directly to consumers.”
Moreover, because of its unique purple color, farms planted with Morado have the potential to attract tourists, offering an additional income opportunity for farmers. Mike is establishing Morado as a trademark on his farm in Agusan del Sur to attract tourists who are intrigued by this distinct purple corn.
“At East-West Seed, we aim to improve the lives of our farmers by offering them innovative and high-yielding vegetable seed varieties that are suitable to the local growing conditions and needs of the local market,” said Jay Lopez, General Manager of East-West Seed Philippines.
“Morado purple corn combines visual appeal, health benefits, and a significant potential to increase income, making it a favorable choice for entrepreneurial farmers,” Lopez added.
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About East-West Seed
East-West Seed, founded in 1982 by Simon Groot, Dutch seedsman and recipient of the 2019 World Food Prize, along with Filipino seed trader Benito Domingo, is one of the world’s leading vegetable seed companies in Asia and expanding rapidly in Africa and Latin America. The privately-owned company has played an important role in the development and improvement of tropical vegetable varieties that are adapted to tropical markets and growing conditions. Its mission is to provide innovative products and services that help to improve the livelihood of vegetable farmers. In addition, East-West Seed trains vegetable farmers to help maximize their yield and income through better knowledge of vegetable production and farming skills.
In 2016, East-West Seed was ranked #1 in the “Global Index for Vegetable Seed Companies” and “Regional Index for Eastern Africa” by Access to Seeds Index (ATSI), a part of the World Benchmarking Alliance. The company maintained its #1 ranking in the 2019 Global and South and Southeast Asia Indices. ATSI measures the efforts of global seed companies in enhancing smallholder farmers’ productivity.
In 2020, it ranked number 28 in Fortune’s Change the World list of companies that are doing well by doing good.
East-West Seed, headquartered in Thailand, is a fast-growing, multicultural organization with around 3,500 employees worldwide. It has 20 R&D establishments in nine countries and exports to over 75 countries. In the Philippines, East-West Seed has three R&D establishments in Batangas and Bukidnon, and its main office is located in San Rafael, Bulacan.
Learn more about us at www.eastwestseed.com.
