Baguio sets 2nd serving of giant tossed salad

BAGUIO CITY — Despite the troubled vegetable industry in the Cordillera region, Baguio’s "Tossed Salad Fest" will have its second serving on Sept. 29 at the Baguio Convention Center.

Last month, vegetable growers in the country’s "Salad Capital" in Northern Benguet complained that vegetable smuggling is killing the local industry. Even the "Biggest Carrot Cake Fest" of Benguet province in November was affected and they are having second thoughts on staging the fest during their foundation day on Nov. 23.

This year’s edition of the salad festival will show marked improvements from the first staging, said Jeannine Chan, president of the Baguio Association of Hotels and Inns (BAHAI), which is spearheading the celebration as part of the continuing observance of the 93rd charter anniversary of Baguio City this month.

Baguio became a chartered city on Sept. 1, 1909.

Chan said this year’s festival will be bigger than last year’s.

"We are not aiming to land in the Guinness Book of Records. We are just perking up the tourism industry here. But we were told to record everything and have it authenticated by the DA, DTI and the Philippine Institute of Public Accountants and submit the same to the Guinness," she said.

Chan said because of this notice from the Guinness, even the salad serving to each visitor will be weighed. Each serving will at least be 150 grams. — Artemio Dumlao