The team behind Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot, led by Kevin Eliscupides (3rd from right), stands proudly in front of their farm’s main entrance.
In the rolling farmlands of Pulong Yantok, Bulacan, a quiet revolution in farming is taking root, literally. What started as a small backyard hobby from a family’s search for healing has blossomed into Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot, now the world’s largest source of hybrid dragon fruit varieties.
With its remarkable collection of over 200 unique dragon fruit cultivars, this family-run enterprise spearheads the movement toward sustainable, innovative farming in the Philippines.
Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot began as a personal journey. When one family member was diagnosed with cancer, the Eliscupides family turned to dragon fruit for its perceived potent health benefits. Understanding the plant’s rich nutrients and antioxidant properties, they became determined to grow it themselves.
What started as a backyard experiment quickly expanded, and by 2012, they had transformed their passion into a pioneering business venture. The family now stands as the proud curators of the world’s most extensive collection of hybrid dragon fruits, featuring varieties that boast unique flavors like coconut, lychee, and strawberry.
Seeds of innovation and growth
Dragon fruit farming is familiar in the Philippines, but with innovative farming methods, Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot has taken the practice to new heights. They have maximized their farm’s potential using a trellis-based growing system reminiscent of vineyards. This system allows them to cultivate more dragon fruits in a fraction of the required space.
As a result, their farm, which spans roughly three hectares, operates as though it were five times that size, proving that even small-scale farmers can achieve significant output through ingenuity.
“We’ve turned even the smallest backyards into productive dragon fruit farms,” says Kevin Eliscupides, co-owner of the depot. “The trellis method allows us and other farmers to maximize land use, saving space and resources. It’s a game-changer for anyone interested in sustainable agriculture.”
While Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot’s success has flourished locally, its influence has gone global. In fact, it has shipped its planting materials to over 80 countries across the globe—from South Africa to Greece and the United States. The depot’s commitment to cultivating rare, high-quality varieties has placed the Philippines on the map as a leading dragon fruit producer. However, the journey to international markets was not without challenges.
“Exporting hybrid dragon fruits requires not only knowledge of cultivation but also logistical precision,” says Kevin. “That’s where FedEx came in. From the very start, they’ve made the process seamless. Their global network and reliable freight service enabled us to send our dragon fruit cuttings quickly and efficiently, even to distant locations.”
Through FedEx’s extensive network and tailored freight solutions for perishables, Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot can maintain the quality and freshness of its temperature-sensitive planting materials as it journeys across borders.
“FedEx has made things so much easier for us,” Kevin explains. “They pick up the materials from our farm, handle all the complex logistics needs such as delivery and customs clearance, and within a week, our products are in our customers’ hands safely and in mint condition.”
The ease of working with FedEx gives Kevin peace of mind, enabling him to focus on other areas of the business while knowing that shipping is well taken care of.
Empowering next generation of farmers
At the heart of Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot’s mission is a desire to uplift others. Not content with keeping their success to themselves, the depot shares its knowledge with aspiring farmers. They provide free training and seminars, teaching innovative farming techniques and promoting the benefits of hybrid dragon fruits.
By partnering with institutions like the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the depot ensures that the next generation of Filipino farmers is equipped to succeed.
“We don’t see ourselves as competitors but as allies,” says Kevin. “Our goal is to help other farmers thrive and succeed so that hybrid dragon fruits can reach more people. We’re committed to making a positive change to the community, and through that, we’re raising the standard for agriculture across the country.”
With the soaring demand for hybrid dragon fruits, Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot is constantly ahead of its game. In addition to its training programs, Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot is now expanding the capacity of its farm to increase the supply of its dragon fruits to both local and international markets. It hopes to one day meet the high demand for dragon fruits in untapped markets and further boost the Philippines’ reputation as a leader in sustainable agriculture.
For Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot, innovation, community, and reliability are the key to its success. With FedEx by their side, they’re not just growing fruit—they’re cultivating a future where the Philippines is recognized as a global agricultural powerhouse.
