TUBLAY, Benguet – Polig’s Berry Farm located in Km. 21 Ambassador here was over eight years in the making to help in ensuring the availability of wild berries for the appreciation of the younger generations considering that these are reportedly becoming extinct.
The farm which is owned by the family of former Vice Mayor Benjie Polig has a land area of more than 13 hectares although only 3 hectares has been developed for the berry farm and the largest kettle locally known as ‘takure’ which is also serving as an added attraction for residents and visitors alike.
Lailyn Polig, daughter of Benjie and Betty Polig, said that the berry farm has 10 kinds of local and imported berries that are planted within the developed farm area.
She claimed that the presence of the various kinds of berries that thrive in the area will serve as a tool to educate the youth on the importance of these plants and teach them how to survive on edible plants when in forested areas for them to know what berries are edible.
The Polig’s Berry Farm was one of the tourist destinations that was visited by the members of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCbC) with the 7 lucky summer visitors on Black Saturday as part of the 4-day red carpet treatment afforded to them as beneficiaries of this year’s Search for Baguio-Benguet Lucky Summer Visitor.
Initially, the ‘takure’ was situated in Mines View where it served as an attraction although it was smaller compared to this one within the berry farm.
Ms. Polig explained that the berries thrive in the area where the soil is acidic and that their place is suitable as the place is mineralized.
Grail Polig, one of the daughters of the Polig couple, takes charge of the business aspect and allied services offered by the berry farm such as the production of strawberry-glazed, ginger-glazed candies, aside from other berry-related products that serve as part of the souvenir items that could be bought in the area.
The BCBC members and the lucky summer visitors had the chance to be toured in the berry farm and partook of the local and foreign berries available during the visit.
Former Vice Mayor Polig disclosed that they gradually introduce developments in their farm depending on the availability of resources, but what is important is that residents and visitors dropping by the tourist destination are happy to see for themselves the various kinds of local and imported berries as well as have a chance to pick and taste the available berries.
Tourists can also partake of the brewed coffee and other available pastries offered in the facility while enjoying the berry picking activities aside from being served with root crops available in the area.