LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- The local government of La Trinidad aims to revitalize its identity as the premier strawberry producer in the Philippines as it holds a Strawberry Festival in March.

During the recent media launch of the Strawberry Festival, Mayor Romeo Salda emphasized the municipality's commitment to reclaim its status as the foremost producer of strawberries in the country amid the flourishing strawberry farming industry in various regions across the Philippines.

That is why this year’s festival theme is “La Trinidad: The Strawberry Capital of the Philippines (Sirom ni
Duting).” 

La Trinidad has approximately 39 hectares of strawberry farms that produce 18 to 22 tons, or 780,000 kilograms of strawberries per harvest, exceeding the combined output of other towns, the mayor said.

He confidently declared that there is enough production of strawberries in the municipality of La Trinidad. Salda assured the availability of ample supply of strawberries from various areas in La Trinidad, including Swamp, Shilan, Puguis, and Wangal, to meet the demands of both residents and tourists.

Municipal Tourism Officer Valred Olsim also emphasized the festival's role in attracting visitors, serving as a platform to showcase La Trinidad's vibrant strawberry culture, and driving economic growth through increased tourism.

“The Strawberry Festival is just one of our ways to promote La Trinidad,” Olsim said.

Among the activities are the opening of  Strawberry Lane at the municipal park, where fresh strawberries and other by-products will be sold, the strawberry vegetable salad competition at the Kings College of the Philippines-La Trinidad on March 4; the heaviest and sweetest strawberries contest on March 8, and the strawberry cake fest on March 17.

The main program of the Strawberry Festival is on March 15, with Senator Imee Marcos as the expected guest. On March 16, there will be street dancing, a small float, and drum and lyre performances.

It can be recalled that La Trinidad made history during its Strawberry Festival in 2004, when the strawberry cake weighing 21,210.40 lbs (9,622.29 kg) concocted by various local bakers entered the Guinness World Record as the largest strawberry shortcake. (JDP/DEB/ PIA-CAR with Marvilyn Lokines, BSU Intern)