The businesses that stand the test of time rarely follow a straight path. Markets shift. Consumer habits evolve. New technologies reshape the way people buy and sell. The entrepreneurs who continue to grow are often those who embrace change while staying grounded in the values that first inspired them to start.
The Organic Options team: Michael “Mike” Melendres (President, second from left) and Maria Luisa Yap-Melendres (Sales and Marketing Head, third from left), flanked by Dr. Geraldine Melendres (Director for Operations, leftmost) and Phoebe Juiguiad (Marketing Officer, rightmost).
For Mike and Malou Melendres, that mindset has shaped Organic Options since they founded the business in 2001.
Long before organic produce became a familiar sight in supermarkets, Mike had already decided that farming could be done differently. Armed with a degree in Agriculture from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, he believed there was a better way to grow food by prioritizing food safety and organic farming. At a time when organic produce remained unfamiliar to many Filipinos, that belief required patience, conviction and resilience.
Like many entrepreneurs, they started small. Growing up on a farm, Mike and his brother personally delivered vegetables to markets across Metro Manila in an aging jeep, making early morning trips to ensure fresh produce reached customers on time. Every delivery reflected the determination to build something they believed in.
