Benguet capital eyes 'Sweet Charlie' as official strawberry variety



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BAGUIO CITY — The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking registration for a variety of strawberry from the capital town of La Trinidad, Benguet.
BPI Agriculturist Juliet Ochasen said they are aiming to register the "Sweet Charlie" variety of strawberry with the DA's National Seed Industry Council (NSIC). According to her, this is the variety most commonly planted by strawberry farmers in La Trinidad.
She added that, to date, no variety of strawberry from the municipality or the entire country has been registered.
Ochasen explained that once the "Sweet Charlie" variety is registered, it will be promoted as the official and standard strawberry produce of La Trinidad. She also noted that before registration, BPI will evaluate the variety to ensure its quality.
La Trinidad attracts both local and foreign tourists, especially for its scenic views and strawberry farms. The famous strawberry farm in La Trinidad, where visitors can pick strawberries, mostly grows the "Sweet Charlie" variety.