Tourists heading to the famous strawberry farms in La Trinidad, Benguet were urged to manage their expectations, as the plantations are still recovering from heavy flooding and continuous rains that damaged fruits and flowers over the past months.

“The strawberry farm is open but we are asking that the visitors balance their expectations because our strawberry farm was flooded and the stakeholders are still fixing the farms. The area is muddy,” Valred Olsim, tourism operations officer of La Trinidad said in a media interview on Friday.

Olsim said the plants are growing again, and souvenir shops at the site remain open, but strawberry picking activities may resume only by December, reaching full capacity by January once the crops have recovered.

Unlike other natural attractions, Olsim noted, the strawberry farm is a manmade site that requires constant maintenance to remain attractive and photo-ready for tourists.

Its condition, he said, largely depends on the local farmers who cultivate and care for the plants.

Despite the temporary setback, Olsim assured that La Trinidad continues to offer a variety of alternative attractions.

Among them are the Shilan Tourism Villages, featuring flower gardens such as Darjanes Garden; the Living Gifts nursery, known for its rare succulents; and Mount Costa and Admiral Farm in Puguis, both popular among family visitors.

For adventure seekers, Valleywood in Tawang and the nearby Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park offer scenic views overlooking the La Trinidad valley.

He added that many of these destinations have expanded to include cafés and restaurants to enhance the visitor experience. (PNA)