BENGUET’S top tourist destination, the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm is gearing up for the start of its harvesting season.
The Benguet Tourism Office earlier reported a 538,346 tourist arrivals this year following the culmination of Adivay Festival, with influx of tourists expected to visit the strawberry farm.
Jumy Buya of the Strawberry Farmers Association said they have started to harvest this month with 20 kilograms harvested daily. Farmers have started planting in September and October and by the third week of December, will mark the peak of its harvest season.
An average of 10,000 strawberries per hectare are expected to be harvested from the farm and sold at P250 to P300 per kilo.
"At least they can see the adaptation of new technologies in the improvement of packaging system," said Buya.
Buya added they are hopeful the new planting materials will reap its ripe fruits as farmers have also adopted the elevated way of planting to at least minimize the contamination of strawberries and avoidable circumstances of flood.
Based on the records of the Municipal Agricultural Office, there are at least 634 farmers cultivating the Benguet State University owned farm lot.
Last year, a total of 839.04 metric tons of strawberries were produced.