Ube Buyer in Benguet

The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 180 tonnes of ube produced in Benguet in 2025, from 8.50 hectares planted. That is 1.48% of national output and ranks the province 14th in the Philippines by volume.

Benguet ranks 45th by area planted but 14th by volume produced — it punches 31 places above its land base. Per hectare, this is one of the more efficient places in the country to grow ube.

Benguet volume concentrates in Q1 — January–March — which carries 44.7% of the province's recorded output, averaged across 2023–2025. This is measured on volume produced, not area planted, so it reflects when tubers come out of the ground rather than when they go in.

Largely yes. Most Philippine ube comes off the ground around the December-to-March window. Benguet plants mainly in the first semester, which puts a share of its harvest outside that peak. Off-cycle volume is worth more to a processor than peak volume, because it fills the months when everyone else has nothing.

Yes, but the economics change below a certain size. For Benguet we work with individual growers from 500 kg and with associations or cooperatives at any volume. Below 500 kg the sensible route is to consolidate with neighbouring growers first — we can help coordinate that.

We buy Dioscorea alata (greater yam) — the purple-fleshed ube used for halaya, powder and paste. Kinampay and its local selections are preferred where available for their colour and aroma, but we buy standard local purple types as well. We do not buy Dioscorea esculenta (tugui) or white-fleshed yam.