Grape picking boosts tourism in La Union
BAUANG, La Union — Grape picking straight from the vines of a plantation in Barangay Urayong here has been attracting foreign and local tourists.
Known as the fruit capital of La Union, this town produces high quality varieties of guapples or apple guava, papaya, sweet corn, mangoes, dragon fruit, orange, and many others.
Grape picking on vast plantation areas in the province provides excitement to tourists.
Avelino Lomboy, a retired provincial agriculturist, is credited for pioneering grape growing in La Union which he started 30 years ago in his 20-hectare vineyard and several hectares for other fruits. He began planting grapes in 1972 acquiring the cuttings from Cebu. After a year of experiment, his vine started bearing fruits.
Lomboy said the grape variety he grows is sturdy and can withstand dry spell.
Inspired by his initial success, Lomboy continued to plant more vines and did experiments allowing him to produce other varieties aside the red cardinal variety.
With the increasing harvest, Lomboy started a grape business in the 80s. He also passed on his skills and knowledge to his sons, daughters and other relatives.
Mayor Eulogio Clarence de Guzman III, Lomboy’s son-in-law, has been promoting grape picking as one of Bauang’s attractions, aside from its pristine beaches and resorts.
Annabelle Gapuz Ancheta, 42, who was also able to establish a grape farm business said that tourists and visitors visit the farm daily, especially during summer, to pick their own grapes. Rainy season is a bad time for them.
She, however, lamented that parking has become a problem in the area due to the limited space.
Ancheta said they harvest three times a year, at an average of 500 kilos, which they deliver to the other province including Metro Manila.
She recalled an experience in the mid ’80s when the grape business suffered due to the influx of imported grapes but said that business had again picked up starting 2014.
Elvira Acosta, 45, a local tourist who went with friends and family members to pick grapes said she finds joy in the activity than merely buying from the market, although the price of picking is higher at 250 per kilo.