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Agrofoods throws 200 kilos of mushrooms everyday

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 12) — “Business is business” for the management of Agrofoods Industries Inc. in Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet. The spirit of sharing is rare among businessmen, not even with the nearing of Christmas.

Agrofoods workers harvest over 1000 kilos of mushrooms daily. The produce is delivered to various market outlets such as restaurants and fast food chains.

However, at the close of business hours, not all the harvested mushrooms are bought. At the end of the day, at least 200 kilos are piled in the bodega and are later thrown away.

A farm worker who requested not to be identified said “nababa dayta dua a gasut a saan a mailako, uray koma met nu maramanan mi a nangimula ngem saan met ta ipabas-basura laeng ni boss”. ( At least 200 kilos is not sold. We don’t even get the chance to at least benefit from what we produce).

Another worker said that the management even makes sure that workers do not benefit from the leftover harvest. “Talaga a siguraduen ni boss nga saan a masida ta talaga nga ipatambak na iti maysa a bodega aginggana mabulok sa maibelleng.” (The boss makes sure that we don’t bring the mushrooms home. These are piled in a bodega until they rot. These are later thrown away).

The workers and their families instead tend vegetable gardens around the premises for additional food source.

Similar industries exercise the same practice of throwing the excess produce rather than giving it free to their workers.

Agrofoods workers and their families settled in the company bunkhouses adjacent to the owner’s quarters and management offices. An “apartment” measures seven by eight feet. Occupants, about 20 households, The tenants have two centralized bath and comfort rooms, which they share daily. # Aldwin Quitasol for NORDIS

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