Strawberry Season is Open
Every Novembertime Baguio natives and visitors alike eagerly wait to pick fresh strawberries from the Strawberry Farm in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet (about 10 minutes away from the border, 20 minutes from the city center). You will see baskets full of strawberries being sold all over Baguio, at the Baguio City Market, and even in “pasalubong” (souvenir) counters near the bus terminals.
The price of Baguio strawberries is dictated by the laws of supply and demand. From November till May, the supply is high so the price is low. Demand rises on weekends and holidays during these months. A kilo of strawberries usually sells from php40 ($.80) to php100 ($2.00).
It is best to wash them, remove the stems and leaves and eat them fresh with sugar.
Here are some other fast and easy ways to enjoy Baguio strawberries:
1. Strawberries and Cream – Slice them in half (or keep them whole if you like), put them in a mixture of whipped all purpose cream and confectioner’s sugar (regular white sugar will do, too, but will be a little grainy) to taste, Put them in a bowl, chill for an hour before serving.
2. Strawberries and Condensed Milk – Dip whole strawberries in condensed milk and pop them in your mouth.
3. Chocolate Fondue with Strawberry – Melt Swiss chocolate (the darker the better, but milk chocolate is ok, too) in a little “never been used” aroma jar, add some milk, dip whole strawberries.
4. Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream – blend whole strawberries with all purpose cream or whole milk, add sugar, freeze and serve. My mom used to make ice cream only when the strawberries were gettting “over-ripe.”
“joel said…
Strawberries and evaporated milk. In a bowl berries them into 1/4 or 1/8 crushing a few to let the juice out add the evap. milk , sugar or sugar-free(diabetics)to taste, chilled clean water and or (clean)ice. Mix and serve. HTH.Keep blogging.
12/04/2006″
Tips for bringing home fresh strawberries from Baguio:
1. Do not buy those already pre-packed in baskets or styrofoam containers as they may be cheaper because you’re really buying a half kilo of tiny strawberries with only a layer of large ones on top.
2. As strawberries ripen fast, buy them before you leave for home and ask to pick them from the basket yourself. Tell the market lady you want a “selection.” She’ll probably charge you php10-20 higher per kilo but it’s worth it.
3. Choose the “under-ripe” ones: those that are less red and more green and white. By the time you get home, the strawberries will be just right.
4. Do not put heavy objects on top of your basket or box of fresh strawberries.
That’s it for now. Enjoy your Baguio strawberries.
You may want to share the way you enjoy strawberries with other readers by posting your comment below.
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Comments
hi…
yummy strawberries!!!
my fave… my daughter and son too…
can’t wait to go to baguio next week.. (11-15, we’re staying at camp john hay-cottage.. homey for me)..
enjoyed this site very much… tnx for all the info!
can i ask some other informations here? Im doing a photography coffee table book about strawberry in baguio as a thesis and I think I can gather alot of infos here. Thank you. Im thinking sir/maam if I can throw some questions and get answers back. Thank you!
sarap naman strawberry ng baguio!
okay sana pag may booth sa session in bloom that will have strawberry goodies, and not just jam, lisa. ala wimbledon. yummy.
and lisa, salamat for the tips on how to make strawberry treats. one can also buy “plain” hotcake in the morning(as early as 620am) for 8 pesos behind the strawberry stalls, then eat them with the strawberries. the strawberries cost 20 pesos for one fourth kilo right now.
I’m a little concern about the amount of chemicals they used. Is there a choice between organic and inorganic? Does anybody know where to get the organic ones? Thanks!
ang sarap naman sa baguio…sana malapit lang baguio sa bahay namin..eheheh strawberry forever
Hi i just wana ask if they are selling Strawberry leaves??? We need it kasi in our Research paper…Our raw materials will be strawberry leaves…Nagbibhinta ba cla??? and if nagbbnta cla how much per kilo??..Pls Reply i badly need it ASAP..Thank you…I will really appreciate if somebody will make a reply…
hi saidy, why not go to the strawberry farms in LT? just one jeepney ride away from the city.
hi,
would like to ask if i can pick strawberries around October as i will be going there on said month.
Hi Nanette,
If you go in late October, maybe. I will try to announce it as soon as the season is open.
hi! is it strawberry season already? il be goin to baguio this oct 29 and im hopin to catch the season before i go back to manila on the 31st..tnx so much
was it a week or two ago when i asked how much a kilo at the city market?
between 150-200 pesos and very small sized. hope they’re bigger by the time you get here, asher.
gusto ko ng strawberries….
san ba bibili if you are not in baguio?
Hi Karina,
Some high end grocery stores carry strawberries, like Rustan’s or Unimart. But some of these do not necessarily come from Baguio City.
The City of Pines supplies the Philippines from November to May.
Hah! Last Monday(Dec 1 ‘08) the big strawberries were going for 250 pesos a kilo. I’ll just wait in the meantime.
Ah Resty,
Holiday weekend. Lots of tourists, Demand exceeding supply. January usually has the lowest prices, about Php40/kilo, then of course the Panagbenga Festival drives strawberry prices up like crazy on the 2nd half og February!
I’m residing in Zamboanga City and planning to have my first visit to La trinidad Benguet. How will i get there? How much is the fare from Manila to Benguet?
Hi Lovella,
Click this link for all the information you need about getting to Baguio by public transportation. Bus fare is about Php400.
When in Baguio, take a jeepney or taxi to La Trinidad Benguet (which is a few minutes away only), and these will cost about Php10 and Php60, respectively. The latter really all depends where in La Trinidad you are planning to go.
Hope this info helps.
actually strawberries are from benguet not in baguio they must call it benguet stawberry……………..
hiya zhanne,
i guess they call them Baguio strawberries because they are sold for the most part at the Baguio City Market, same as the Baguio beans. at least Benguet Coffee has the correct name.
On my list is to dine in Cafe by the ruins. How will i get there?
Is the supply for strawberries still available by April?
Hi Lovella,
Cafe by the Ruins is located right below Baguio City Hall, walkable from Burnham Park on the west side. From wherever you are, youcan take a jeep that goes towards the Plaza or market, but if you are with companions, better to take a cab. Our taxi drivers are honest and give the exact change.
Strawberries should be in season until May, so April will be just fine. If you are coming up on Holy Week though, make sure you get there ahead of the crowds as we do not want to run out of strawberries to pick, do we?
how many growers of strawberry farm are there in Benguet?
If i were to bring with me some fresh strawberries could it still be fresh by the time i arrive in zamboanga city assuming that my flight schedule is one the same day?
Hi Lovella,
The land is owned by Benguet State University and different groups lease the land for a low amount (I heard Php30/sq/annum) to plant the strawberries in rows or plots. Please know that the strawberries are cheaper if you buy them by the kilo in Baguio City. Strawberry picking is more expensive because one will be paying both for the experience, the strawberries and the ones that are ruined in the process (the fruit is delicate unlike apples or oranges).
Be sure to pick large ones — as UNRIPE as possible — if you want them to last for a few more days. They ripen fast with a lot of handling and traveling so that when you get to Zamboanga, they will be perfectly ripe. This means choose strawberries that are NOT YET RED, meaning, the ones that are as WHITE as possible.
Hand carry them on the plane (when I went to Dumaguete last month, I packed them in my luggage and Cebu Pacific marked my bags so that they would be put on top of other luggage and they said it is better to hand carry them next time) because it is possible.
Hope this info helps.
Thanks for the info.
I’m hoping that my hometown Zamboanga City will have it’s own blog like this. Much better that the info are coming from personal observation rather than fabrication of events like some of the media people.
Are all varities of strawberries sweet? Does La Trinidad produces the sweetest fresh strawberries?
Hi Lovella,
Create one for Zamboanga — you can do it! If you want a free site, sign up with Blogger.com (it’s intuitive — if you can email, you can blog). I’m 44, we used typewriters during my time. Start telling folks everything you love about Zamboanga. If you want one with wordpress (like this one) sign up for hosting (see those small boxes on the rightmost column?), they give you a free domain name (that’s your dotcom) and install wordpress via fantastico — midphase and anhosting give great support for newbies.
And yes, La Trinidad produces the best strawberries in the Philippines!
if i will spend four days in Baguio i would prefer to stay in a board and logding house or bed spacer i think it’s much cheaper. What would you suggest?
Hi Lovella,
May I suggest you check out my other site Go Baguio! It contains all the travel info and tips for your vacation. I must say, though, that your security and that of your belongings may be more important than the money you will save by staying in a room without locks, no?
How about Norlu Pension? Is it an ideal place to stay?
Hi Lovella,
Better than a dorm, I would say…
I have a family friend whose town house is located in Green Valley. Is that place far from the City?
Hiya Lovella,
It’s about 5km from the city CENTER. But it’s safe and cold and foggy there, so it’s a nice place to stay, especially if it comes free.
Are cabs available in Green Valley?
Hi Lovella,
You will have to walk down to the subdivision gate, I believe. But the cabs can go inside and drive you up to your lodging. I don’t know if you can ask the gate guards to call one for you by telephone.
Are all bus liner passes to Marcos Highway instead of Kenon Road?
Hi again, Lovella,
Yes, they pass Marcos Highway. Most likely you will be taking a Victory Liner bus, right? If you are staying at Green Valley, tell the conductor/driver to drop you off at the junction so you do not have to go all the way to the terminal and back to GV. You’ll still have to take a cab to get to your townhouse but cheaper na.
how’s the temperature in Baguio nowadays?
could i packed the strawberries in an ice box (no ice) and hand carried them?
Hi Lovella,
It’s relatively warmer now for us residents but I am sure it’s way cooler than elsewhere — highs of 24C and lows of 16C, with s short-lived thunderstorm yesterday (same as Manila).
Yes you can pack the strawberries in a box to hand carry. The key here is to keep them in a container that will not allow too much movement for the strawberries so they do not ripen too fast.
Is Marcos Highway a safe road to travel in going to Bagiuo?
Hi Lovella,
While I appreciate receiving all your queries here in relation to your trip to Baguio City, may I suggest you peruse mycomplete guide to Baguio City instead (just click the link), which basically has all the answers to your general questions about visiting the City of Pines.
I have written an article there comparing Marcos Highway and Kennon Road.
My husband and I went to Baguio last April 25-29, 2009. Bus fare (Victory liner) from Pasay Manila to Baguio is P 435 per person. While in Baguio we stayed at Benguet State University in La Trinidad. The accommodation was at average (with clean common bathroom and ref, light & water). The Strawberry Farm was just a walking distance from the Campus Gate 3 exit. The rainy season came very early so the strawberries are sour and small in size. The fruit vendors told us that its already the off season. I was not able to bring a basket of strawberries. But instead I purchase some Strawberry Wine & jams for pasalubong and other handicrafts. We missed to visit the hot springs. The rest of the tourist attractions were visited twice. We venture to mouth watering cuisine of Jack’s Restaurant and Cafe by the ruins. Taking picture is a must so with the beautiful flowers in Orchidaruim. I bought some plants that is adaptable to warm climate in Zamboanga City. Your blog is very helpful to us. I hope we could visit Baguio especilally in the Months of Feb & mar. Muchisimas gracias!!!
Hi Lovella,
De nada, chica! And thank you for giving us details of your Baguio vacation. Try the Panagbenga Festival next and stay over until La Trinidad holds the Adivay in March. That should be fun!
Te veo!
hi! can you tell me what are the spots we can visit and how to go in every one of them. we plan of going thru Victory Liner. Then after that, what place/hotel can we nearly check in. Do you have all the list of tourist spots we can visit for 4 days of our stay? we are only 2 and hope we can enjoy the stay and go tripping around. thank you.
Hi Bj 28,
Please check Baguio Tour Itineraries instead at http://www.gobaguio.com. You should find a lot of info on visiting and enjoying Baguio City Philippines there!
Hi! can we still see good strawberries and flowers during the month of september? thanks!
hi! is it true that strawberry picking is not allowed this november? y is that so? it will be our first time to go to the strawberry farm, so im disappointed that we cant get to pick our strawberries. we’ll be in baguio by last week of nov.tnx
Hi,
Strawberry season usually opens in November, after our wet season.
Hi Kris,
Read that post again — that was written last year because the rains in 2008 came late. If this lovely wet Philippines season holds, the strawberries should be ready for picking in time for your vacation in Baguio in late November.
hi there, could you give me contact number of whoever can send me strawberries when i needed them…thanks…looking for suppliers actually