This capital town sees more strawberry by-products as it continues to work with national government agencies to further elevate not only the fruit but also this locality, which is the top producer of the berries in the country.

“We see more products being developed and improved. From just strawberry preserves and jam in the past, we saw strawberry wines being produced and a lot more now, which provides the public with a choice of strawberry by-product-made delicacies and souvenirs to bring home,” Mayor Romeo Salda said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Among the strawberry by-products being produced by micro and small enterprises (MSE) in the province to date are tarts, cakes, muffins, cupcakes, candies, strawberry alamang (strawberry-laced shrimp paste), soap, feminine wash, strawberry taho (made of silken tofu, sago pearls and strawberry filled caramel), vinegar and dried strawberries.

Salda said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are assisting the MSEs not just in improving their products but also in providing proper and appropriate packaging and getting the permit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Meanwhile, included in the three-week celebration of the annual Strawberry Festival, scheduled from March 3 to 26, is a farmers’ day where possibilities and innovations will be introduced to processors.

La Trinidad’s tourism plan involves around strawberry since this is its entry to the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program of the government.

It produces about 18 to 22 tons of fresh strawberries per hectare, with about 36.4 hectares of land used to produce strawberries.

Around 2,000 micro, small and medium enterprises and 1,000 farmers rely on the fruit for their income. (PNA)