INSTITUTIONALIZATION of the highland vegetable week has been proposed every second week of July in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Proponent Councilor Roderick Awingan said the move gears to sustain the vegetable industry celebration and highlight the vegetables coming from the municipality.

“The municipality is being highlighted not only that we are trading capital of highland vegetables, however it also shows the people in our municipality can also make programs through concerted cooperation and contribution,” the lawmaker declared during the public consultation.

La Trinidad remains as highland vegetables trading center not only for Benguet but also in the region which supplies different markets in the whole country.

“Over the years, other trading centers were established which includes the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center, the largest in the country and other privately owned trading centers, almost all trading highland vegetables,” Awingan said.

Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) during the observance of the Highland Vegetable Week include preparations for the largest vegetable salad.

The La Trinidad Highland Vegetable Week Steering Board through concerted coordination with the different highland vegetable trading organizations, farmer's organizations, government, non-government and business organizations are tasked in the preparation of vegetable salad and other vegetable end products.

Under the proposed ordinance, the steering board will also prepare other programs for the founding anniversary of La Trindad Vegetable Trading Post every July 13.

The vegetable trading post in the valley has been existing for 34 years.

Socio-civic programs approved by the board will be sponsored by participating organizations, and a symposium will also be slated on the same week focusing on the promotion and development of the highland vegetable products.

In 2017, the League of Associations of La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post initially led the preparation of the 1.3 ton giant vegetable salad which aims to highlight the contribution of highland vegetable industry in the valley.

The fresh locally produced vegetables served to at least 2,000 stakeholders.

La Trinidad, second to the city of Baguio as the most visited Cordillera town, is also known as the strawberry capital of the country and the commercial and educational center of the province of Benguet.

Climate in the valley is endemic to the production of strawberry, cut-flower, highland vegetables and Arabica coffee plantations. The town also holds the Guinness Book of World Record for baking the world's largest strawberry shortcake in March 2004.