Growing Love for Local Farmers from Sustainable Training to the Weekend Market
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines, 17th September 2026 – For farmers, learning how to grow better crops is only one part of building a sustainable livelihood. Just as important is having an opportunity to bring their harvest to consumers and earn from the products they worked hard to grow.
This is where the journey continues for farmers who have gone through SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture (KSK) program. Through the annual program, farmers are trained in sustainable and organic farming practices, equipping them with knowledge and skills that they can apply to their own farms and communities.
But for the farmers, the impact of the training does not end when the lessons are completed. The real value of what they have learned can be seen when they are able to put their skills into practice, produce quality harvests, and find opportunities to sell what they grow.
Farmers from Lily of the Valley Organic Farms proudly showcase their fresh and organic produce at the
SM City Baguio Weekend Market
The SM City Baguio Weekend Market helps carry that learning forward by connecting KSK-trained farmers with consumers. It gives them an opportunity to showcase and sell their fresh harvests and locally made products, allowing them to put their sustainable farming practices into action while creating livelihood opportunities for their families and communities.
Among those who have benefited from the program is Lily of the Valley Organic Farms, a partner school of KSK. Through the training, farmers are introduced to organic and sustainable agriculture practices that can help improve the way they grow and manage their produce. With opportunities such as the SM City Baguio Weekend Market, these farmers are given a venue where the fruits of that learning can reach more people.
Ethan Laruan of Lily of the Valley Organic Farms shared his gratitude for the opportunity provided to KSK-trained farmers to sell their produce at SM City Baguio. For him, having a venue where they can bring their harvest to consumers allows the farmers to put their training into practice while creating an additional source of income for their families.
For them, the opportunity is a meaningful continuation of the training. The knowledge gained from KSK becomes more valuable when farmers are able to turn their harvest into livelihood and share the products of their hard work with the community.
Also taking part in the Weekend Market is the Virac Organic Agriculture Cooperative, bringing organic products from Itogon closer to shoppers at SM City Baguio.
“Thank you at binigyan kami ng pribilehiyo na magtinda dito sa SM. Maraming salamat po at naipromote namin ang mga products namin from Itogon po na organic. Malaking tulong sa amin kasi nabibigyan kami ng panghanapbuhay,” shared Jean Solivia from the cooperative.
KSK-trained local farmers bring their fresh produce to the SM City Baguio Weekend Market, turning their learnings into livelihood opportunities.
The experience shows how training and market access can work hand in hand. Programs like KSK help farmers gain the knowledge to improve their farming practices, while opportunities to sell their produce allow them to turn that knowledge into something tangible for their families and communities.
It is a cycle that begins with learning, continues through hard work in the farm, and grows further when farmers are given a place to bring their harvest to market.
Through the SM City Baguio Weekend Market, the mall continues to provide a platform for local farmers and producers to connect with consumers and create opportunities from the products they grow. It is also a way of supporting the work that begins through KSK, helping farmers sustain the skills they have gained by giving them a space where their produce can find its way to the community.
Because supporting farmers is not only about teaching them how to grow. It is also about helping create opportunities for what they grow to support their families and communities.
From the lessons learned through KSK to the harvests brought to the Weekend Market, SM City Baguio continues to grow its love and support for farmers, helping create opportunities where knowledge can become livelihood and every harvest can mean another step forward.
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