Trinidad bans political campaign during Strawberry festival
-A A +AWednesday, March 6, 2013
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Mayor Greg Abalos said no campaigning will happen during the month-long celebration of the Strawberry Festival here.
The 13th annual strawberry festival themed “Sowing the Seeds of Meaning Friendships” opened in March 1.
The Valley is known for its lush strawberries. Strawberry fields Betag, Poblacion, Puguis and Pico here provide the region with the product all year round.
In 2008 26,292.28 metric tons (MT) of strawberries was produced here. Peak season for the luscious fruits come in November with a 2,039 MT produced two years ago till March with 609.56 in the same period.
There are an estimated 1,908 strawberry farmers in the valley.
La Trinidad Councilor Robert Namoro, Liga president of the Valley, said all 16 barangays will participate in the annual agro industrial trade fair that will open in March 15.
Namoro said the barangay stalls will feature local goods and arts and crafts from the Valley in an exhibition at the municipal park.
He also said there’s a new processing and packaging for local wines here with the help of the Association of Wine Makers in Manila.
The mayor showed the new bottle, and said the taste of the brew is not as sweet as what has been accustomed to.
Abalos said the wine has eight percent alcohol content and will be served during the Strawberry Night Classic (An Evening of Wine, Food and Music), which is an activity that will gather balikbayans.
Abalos said a wine processing center will also rise at the Department of Tourism packaging center here.
Brewing local wine is endemic to the region of the Cordilleras as wine brewing is a part of the Igorot woman’s life, and each household keeps about a jar of rice wine called “tapuy”.
Later brewers have utilized various fruits for the making of a variety of table wines all over the region, making use of whatever endemic fruits available.
Wine is the prime element of almost all occasions in Cordillera with wine processors associations mushrooming all over.
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on March 06, 2013.
Local news
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