A visit to a Strawberry Farm in Bucari, Leon

Finally, on my hand lies a freshly picked strawberry grown organically in Brgy Bucari in the town of Leon, Iloilo. It was a few weeks ago when I blogged about these fruits now grown in Iloilo. And today together with some friends, we visited a private farm which is among the first which grows strawberries in Iloilo.

Brgy. Bucari is nicknamed "Little Baguio" - pine trees, cool climate, picturesque mountainside and now strawberries. The town of Leon is around 40 minutes from Iloilo City and from the plaza, you can take jeepneys going to Brgy Bucari (9am is the first trip then 3pm is the last trip unless you occupy/hire the jeepney and make it your service).

After another 40-minute ride through scenic mountainside, lush vegetation, bumps and humps plus a lot more things first timers would notice, we finally walked down for around 20 minutes through a semi steep hillside (the view like the one below was fantastic!).

Despite the scorching summer heat, the air was cool when we traveled down the hillsides going to the farm.

Then we saw what we came for, an organic farm growing corn, lettuce, rootcrops and their star produce - strawberries!

As the farm has just started growing them, it's still a small patch in the backyard where they can be found. Still, they are inside "plastics" where they can be easily moved for natural and organic "research and development".

And there they were - red and luscious, beckoning us for a closer look. A single "seedling" can produce as much as 10 berries so it won't be a long wait when we can see this farm expand their strawberry "plantation".

Surrendering to the temptation, I finally got hold of them (I was actually concerned there wouldn't be too many left since my companions were already picking them).

And the series of clicks and flashes (despite the high morning sun) began...

Posing as if ready for a close up

Focus your attention!

A "berry" photogenic

As if the berry temptation would never end - then I had my first bite.Just a little brush of the dirt if there was any and a little wash with water. Talk about organic! Some berries even had "insect bites" to prove they were. I expected it to be sour since they are just still small. But they weren't, they were sweet with little hint of tartness, like most strawberries do. That got my strawberry appetite going - I had around 7 pieces from then on!

With our curiosity satisfied, our cameras/mobile phones teeming with photos, strawberry-cravings fulfilled, it was time to retrace our steps back - upward! It took us twice the length of time to go back up - searing heat of the sun (but the air was cool) and the steepness "doubled". But it was worth the trek. Finally we have traveled, saw and tasted "home-grown" strawberries that can be considered "right in our backyard". Now, Bucari can really pride itself as a Little Baguio!

Acknowledgment: Many thanks to Mr Johnny Que and his able staff (Arvi, Nards, Marjoe and Tina) for facilitating this strawberry farm tour. The produce of this farm as well as that of Orchard Valley are being sold at Iloilo Supermart and used at Days Hotel Iloilo, Coffeebreak, Green Mango, Floyd's Famous BBQ, Nothing but Desserts, Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine, Mojave Grill and Steak House and Amalfi Cucina Italiana, among others.

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