LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Despite having battered by the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng” over a month ago, thousands of farmers in this vegetable-producing province are now capable of providing the expected 80 percent increase in the demand for semi-temperate vegetables for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

This was bared by officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Cordillera and agriculture stakeholders in the province after noting abundant supply of vegetables being brought to the vegetable trading post here which is being purchased by Manila and lowland-based communities.

However, the concerned stakeholders are somewhat worried over the expected influx of smuggled vegetables from China this month since unscrupulous importers are expected to take advantage of the Yuletide season by flooding the local markets with imported vegetables which directly compete with locally grown products.

Worst, smuggled vegetables from China are sold lower compared to the ones produced in Benguet, thus, consumers tend to purchase them even though they have greater health hazards due to the high chemical input to maintain its firmness after the long travel from their points of origin.

Vegetable dealers at the trading post claimed the situation in the premier vegetable trading facility has normalized over the past several weeks since Manila and lowland-based traders have already resumed their bulk purchases coupled with the attractive prices of the commodities.

At least 200 to 300 trucks loaded with assorted vegetables which come from the different vegetable-producing communities in the province flock to the trading post to sell their crops to the different traders who come to get their regular supply of locally grown commodities.

In order to sustain the abundant supply of vegetables after the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng,” farmers who were directly affected by the calamity were able to plant new crops in preparation for the upcoming harvest season so that there will be a continuous supply of highland vegetables.

The vegetables which are commonly in demand during the Yuletide celebrations include carrots, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and other ingredients of vegetable salad to place a balance to the prevalence of too much meat for the consumers.

Benguet, Mountain Province and some parts of Ifugao serve as the major sources of at least 80 percent of the country’s demand for the products.