1 month ago
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SOLANA, Cagayan — To make Valentine's Day more memorable and special for her loved ones this year, Maricris Maravilla will send bouquets of vege-tables, instead of the traditional flowers and chocolates.
HEALTHY GIFT Bouquets made out of vegetables as an alternative to flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day are becoming a trend in Cagayan province. PHOTO BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA
"This is something new and I love exploring other alternatives rather than the usual ones," the 25-year-old Maravilla told The Manila Times on Thursday.
The veggie bouquet was first introduced by the Department of Agriculture – Cagayan Valley regional office in Tuguegarao City a couple of years ago and is now gaining traction and public attention in the province.
The bouquet can contain various combinations of vegetables such as eggplant, bell pepper, onion, ginger, lettuce and ampalaya, among others.
Other variations also include fruits.
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"Vegetable bouquet flowers would also be a promotion to healthy living. We can buy the vegetables from our Kadiwa stores and send them as gifts on February 14, day of hearts," said Rose Marie Aquino, Cagayan Valley regional executive director.
The price of the bouquets range from P400 to P800, depending on the content.
The Department of Agriculture in Region 2 has been buying vegetables and fruits from local farmers that are sold in Kadiwa-accredited stores.
Farmers also expressed delight with the influx of buyers of vegetables for Valentine's Day.
"This will help us turn the tide of the past typhoons. Although the income is not that much, it will buy rice and other food," farmer-housekeeper Ade-laida Almazan said in local tongue.
