Fruit Festival invigorates ‘fruit bowl’ of Benguet

SABLAN, Benguet – This fifth class municipality, considered Benguet’s fruit bowl, lived out its well-deserved reputation Wednesday when it held its first Fruit Festival before local residents and Filipino and foreign tourists.

Located 21 km from Baguio City, the streets of Sablan burst with colors and flavors as mini floats showcasing the bountiful fruit harvests of local farms paraded around town.

“It’s about time that we introduce Sablan and its abundant fruit products, that’s why I thought of launching a fruit festival which will help the town’s tourism and economy and improve the livelihood of people,” said Councilor Hilson Busoy, chairman of the town council’s tourism committee.

Sablan is known for its sweet and succulent bananas, pineapples, pomelos, guavas, santol, guyabanos, papayas, dalanghita, avocado and other local fruits. Some locals have also started growing mangosteen, marang, lanzones, rambutan and durian.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan lauded organizers of the festival, which he said will help spur economic development and tourism growth in Sablan and even nearby towns.

Fongwan urged fruit growers to maintain the high quality of their produce and other non-fruit agricultural products which can also be showcased.

Sablan produces a large quantity of brooms sold in many locations in Baguio City.