Gourmet Farms was born from the vision of our founder, Ernest Escaler, a man whose quiet generosity and faith have shaped not only a company, but a community. 

Our story is one of passion, purpose, pioneering firsts, and a mission that extends far beyond business. 

In the 1970s, Mr. Escaler dared to prove that Philippine coffee belonged on the world stage. We became the first to trade Filipino beans abroad, setting the tone for a legacy of “firsts” that followed. 

Gourmet Farms, Inc was incorporated in 1987. 

In 1988, we built the nation’s first commercial coffee roastery, and soon after, in 1990, planted the country’s first organic lettuce and herb farm in Silang, Cavite—sparking a farm-to-table movement long before it became a global trend. 

In 1991, Gourmet Café opened its doors, showing Filipinos what fresh, local, organic food could be. As a testament to this, in 2022, Ernest was named the “Father of Farm to Table” by Philippine Tatler. 

We later introduced ready-to-eat salads and wraps in supermarkets, the first of their kind, and developed an extensive line of herbal teas rooted in Filipino tradition. 

In 2016, we launched Kapelipinas, the first nationwide line of single-origin Philippine coffees, and in 2023 partnered with De La Salle University to build the Philippines’ first coffee curriculum and Coffee Lab, ensuring future generations will carry this legacy forward. 

In 2018, Mr Escaler was bestowed with the “Coffee Icon” award by the Department of Tourism (DTI) and The Philippine Coffee Board. 

At the heart of our farm stands the Sanctuary of St. Joseph, a chapel and retreat space Ernest built as a gift to God. It is here that silence, prayer, and nature converge, shaping our company culture of God-centeredness. Our workplace breathes with weekly Mass, prayer booklets, recollections, and Marian feast-day celebrations.

This spirit of stewardship extends to our businesses. Today, Farm Management Services form a growing pillar of Gourmet Farms. From large-scale projects like Balesin Island’s farm management program to partnerships with DA-ATI and other agencies, we bring our expertise in organic farming, agribusiness development, and training to clients nationwide. 

Through these efforts, we help build sustainable farms and empower communities to adopt our tested protocols and values of excellence. 

Through these acts, he lives by a simple conviction: that business is not just about profit, but about service. 

“I just live by example,” he says. “There’s no other way to speak to people. You have to show them through action.” 

Ernest Escaler continues to inspire a company where innovation and mercy go hand in hand. Today, Gourmet Farms is more than a brand—it is a living mission, where every cup, every leaf, every harvest tells a story of nation-building, faith, and love for the Filipino land and people.