Benguet farmers were compelled to give away their free carrots, whose farmgate price had fallen to P1 per kilogram. Local traders attributed the decline in the price of highland veggies on the overabundance of illegal crops.
Carrots were given away for free in Benguet, especially in Baguio City, according to vegetable trader Lorna Menzi of La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in a radio broadcast.
Menzi stated, “In various barangays, the medium and small sized (carrots) were released and given for free.”
“This has been the situation ever since the influx of illegal carrots, as consumers prefer large carrots,” she continued.
Following the discovery of kilograms of vegetables abandoned at Burnham Park in Baguio City, images and videos posted on social media showed locals and visitors gathering up carrots.
Menzi cautioned the public about the risks associated with eating smuggled carrots, saying, “We are not sure if these are fresh, as the carrots were placed in the container vans for a long time.”
She pointed out that over the past two years, the amount of huge carrots being smuggled has continued to grow.
She continued, saying that because peak harvest season begins this month, the dumping of highland veggies might continue.
In Metro Manila markets, the retail price is still high even with the dumping of carrots. According to Department of Agriculture monitoring, the price per kilogram of the vegetable varied from P80 to P160.
