No Monkey Labor in Philippine Coconut Industry

A PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia investigation report about monkeys being used as coconut pickers has gone viral. This was followed by campaigns to boycott coconut products that involves monkeys in the production chain. The monkey-harvesting practice has been reported in Thailand and coconut products from Thailand are subject of the campaign. 

Meanwhile, the Philippines is a major exporter of coconut products. Coconuts in the country are produced from inherently organic and sustainable farms. Use of monkey labor in harvesting was never a practice in its long history in coconut farming. The country’s production of 15 billion nuts annually are manually harvested by coconut farmers and farm workers. 

The Philippines thus proudly offers itself as an alternative supplier of coconut and products of the highest standard.