Errands Out of Town and the LTB Farm

Hello, Friday :)

Already the 3rd of the month on our side of the world and we are in the city for some errands. As much as I didn't want to go out (again) during the week, we have to because of an appointment which when canceled will cost me a fortune (kidding). It's just hard to secure another schedule so the trip has to push through.

We left the house two hours before dawn. Too early, yeah? We had to or we will be inconvenienced by the series of traffic along the way which is common during these months because of the many ongoing road maintenance and stuff.

Anyway, we were passing by the La Trinidad Strawberry Field and noticed that some lots are starting to look greener and pretty much ready for summer (some areas not really so). These months through May are the busiest season for tourists. Travelers from different parts of the country come up here because of the cooler weather and the Strawberry Farm is just one of their must-see places in town.

This side of the fields however are not growing strawberries but lettuce and some other variety of veggies and plants.

Apparently, the area of the whole agricultural field is 196.4 acres (79 hectares) and is owned by the Benguet State University and local farmers lease around 500 to 1000 square meter lots for their own cultivation.

History puts it that the cultivation of strawberries started way back in the 1980s through the initiative of the town's then mayor, Hilarion Pawid who staged the very first Strawberry Festival with the intention of encouraging farmers to grow the fruit. His efforts seem to have been successful because for years now, the province has been known as the "Strawberry Capital of the Philippines."

Quite an interesting beginning, I must say.

And add to that, the town holds the Guinness World record for the biggest strawberry shortcake. It bagged the title when it created the cake that weighed 9,622.24 kilograms in 2004 and was served to more than 10,000 people.

The coming month (March 6-31) will be the town's Strawberry Festival which I believe will be fun and exciting because the event has not been celebrated in the last 3 years due to the pandemic. Hope to be able to check it out by then. But today through the rest of the weekend, we will be spending most our time in the city.

Happy Friday everyone❤

Photos are my own. 03022023/09:15ph