Pineapple (Formosa variety) is on of the most abundant crop in the province of Camarines Norte, with an area of more than two-thousand hectares planted by farmers in the entire province and almost five thousand hectares is the potential area for expansion. Relatively the Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative is one of the private institutions venturing in the pineapple production & by-product utilization. Aside from pineapple fruit, the pineapple leaves are utilized to produce fiber that generates additional income by coop-partners and members.

The project was created in mind thru the Department of Trade in Industry with partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation. Then cooperative started the production of pineapple fiber since year 2006 with the helped of different government agencies such as DTI, FIDA, DOST, Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units with partnership by individual partner-member of the cooperative. In year 2006, the production volume start with 2472.25 kg dried pineapple fiber, series of training and seminars, information dissemination regarding the program. Several by-products out of pineapple fiber was diversified in pineapple cloth production. In year 2007, the annual pineapple fiber production increases to 3,651.92 kg dried fiber.

Thus, the Department of Agriculture Region V is very willing to assist the pineapple farmers of Camarines Norte, to the extent, the SAIS-BC RP-SPAIN Project thru AECID extended their assistance to Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative through Expansion and Marketing of Machine Decorticated Pineapple Fiber. Series of trainings and seminars on Basic Skills Operation on Machine Decortication, Cooperative Strengthening & Marketing, different equipment was granted to coop such as 3 units deco-machine, fiber dryer, bailing machine, compressor motor and construction of deco-shed house. The cooperative as project consolidator, extended the services with different farmer organization from nearby towns of Labo, namely, San Vicente, Basud, & San Lorenzo Ruiz. The farmer-grower of Fabrica, San Vicente served better as common partner-member of the cooperative that increases their production volume thru the equipments granted to them and financial-technical assistance provided by the cooperative, this resulted for the total production by year 2008 of 5749.60 kg dried fiber.

At present the Rp-Spain Project is on Year 2 w/c includes three more beneficiary municipalities such as Mercedes, Talisay & Vinzons. Business integration and linkages with other farmer organization is strengthen through collaborative efforts to sustain the project.

As f to date for CY 2009 the cooperative is very eager to meet and surpass the production target and increase the output from the previous year. This means that several farmers will be benefited by the project and augment their family income.