The Benguet strawberry industry is looking up as the province’s production is rising due to increasing profitability in the sector.
According to La Trinidad Municipal Agriculture Officer Nida Organo, agri-tourism and increased support for the industry have led to an influx of new blood in the farming sector.
Data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) indicates that the number of registered strawberry farmers in Benguet have nearly doubled in the past year, jumping from 720 in 2023 to 1,320 in 2024.
Production has similarly kept pace, increasing from 1,188 metric tons in 2023 to 1,449 in 2024.
At the same time, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is seeking the registration and accreditation of a specific strain of strawberry as an official variety for Benguet.
According to the BPI, the bureau is looking to register the local “Sweet Charlie” variety of strawberry with the National Seed Industry Council. This variety, the most common variety in La Trinidad, would be the first registration of its kind in the country as no local strains have been registered with the NSIC.
Once registered, the variety will be considered the official and standard variety for La Trinidad farmers and be subject to promotion and quality control.
