For many Filipinos, strawberries represent one thing: a vacation to the cool hills of Baguio, sticky fingers from fresh picks and that unmistakable sweet-tart bite. Strawberries are a fruit appreciated by people of all ages and cultures because they are bright, juicy and feel a little unique.
What if you didn’t have to drive far to get high-quality strawberries? What if the future of farming brought luscious, pesticide-free berries closer to home — grown in a highly controlled indoor environment rather than on mountain soil?
That is the idea behind the Philippines’ first indoor, climate-controlled, vertical strawberry farm, which is powered by innovation, trust and the belief that local agriculture can be redefined.
A dream rooted in timing and trust
“Malayo na, pero malayo pa (We have come far, but there is a long way to go),” shared Jayson Fumera, co-founder of the pioneering farm, in an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE — a phrase that perfectly captures the journey thus far: progress has been made, but the mission continues.
For Fumera, the guiding philosophy is simple, “Right place, right time and right quantity.”
The goal was clear from the start, to develop the infrastructure for indoor vertical farming and to grow and produce the best strawberries in the Philippines.
The story began in 2017 when Lewis Yu and Fumera, a young agricultural engineer with a daring plan to transform farming and food production in the nation, met. Despite coming from opposite backgrounds, the two formed a partnership based on the same goal. Yu started to see the dream as something worth creating together as they got closer, rather than just as Fumera’s.
This collaboration ultimately produced the nation’s first indoor vertical strawberry farm, which is climate-controlled, technologically advanced and built to yield high-quality berries all year round.
A universal favorite
Fumera himself understands the fruit’s global appeal.
He said, “Strawberries are really well-loved by people. It’s like a universal fruit in the whole world.”
It’s easy to understand why they are so popular. Strawberries are ideal for desserts, smoothies, jams, chocolates and even savory recipes since they have the ideal ratio of sweetness to acidity. Their smooth texture and fragrance make them easily identifiable, while their vivid crimson color conveys freshness and decadence.
Different kind of strawberry
What makes these berries stand out begins with the variety.
“So, the first difference is that our variety of strawberries is from Spain. The variety is called Portola.”
In addition to genetics, the growing process guarantees quality and consistency. Because precision agriculture is being used to grow these strawberries indoors, each plant is given precise light, nutrient and temperature conditions that maximize growth and quality.
The result is naturally cultivated berries that are sweet, juicy and free of pesticides to please even the pickiest palates. These strawberries can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator, but for optimal flavor and texture, they should be eaten within three to five days of purchase.
Harmonizing nature and technology
The farm demonstrates that high-tech farming can nevertheless coexist peacefully with the environment by operating under a philosophy of combining innovation and sustainability.
The farm’s innovative design relies on multiple advanced components to optimize strawberry production in a compact, sustainable space. Vertical growing racks form the foundation, with multi-layered structures that maximize space usage — allowing far more plants to thrive in a smaller footprint while keeping each layer easily accessible for maintenance and harvesting.
Complementing this, a state-of-the-art artificial lighting system uses energy-efficient LED lights tuned to specific wavelengths that mimic natural sunlight, supercharging photosynthesis without excessive power draw.
At the heart of operations is the hydroponic irrigation system, where strawberries flourish in a soil-free environment with nutrients dissolved directly in water and delivered straight to the roots.
This setup pairs seamlessly with a water recycling system that filters and returns excess water to the irrigation cycle, slashing consumption and boosting sustainability. Together, these elements create a closed-loop efficiency that minimizes waste and environmental impact.
To ensure top-tier fruit quality and yield, the farm integrates bees as natural pollinators, fostering ecological balance right within the controlled space. This thoughtful blend of high-tech precision and nature-inspired methods not only enhances pollination but also delivers healthier, higher-output strawberries year-round.
Farming with purpose
The farm’s philosophy can be summed up simply, “Farmed with precision. Grown with purpose. Delivered at perfection.”
Every strawberry is cultivated using advanced techniques that prioritize sustainability, quality and integrity. The result is fruit that is vertically farmed, locally grown, perfectly ripe, pesticide-free, non-GMO and always in season.
More than just a technological milestone, the project represents a shift in how Filipinos can think about food production. And while the journey continues, Fumera’s words remain a fitting reminder of where they stand today, “Malayo na, pero malayo pa.”