LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) — A family-owned mulberry farm in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte is gaining attention as a rising agri-tourism destination.
Run by Ritchie and Mary Grace Lamug, Enrigue’s Great Mulberry Farm started in September 2023 and now houses 500 Illinois variety mulberry cuttings on a half-hectare lot in Brgy. Pasiocan.
For only P100, visitors can enjoy an all-you-can-pick and eat mulberry experience, making it a fun, budget-friendly activity for families and nature lovers.
Ritchie manages plant propagation and maintenance, while Mary Grace handles marketing and business operations, including a growing line of mulberry-based products like jam, concentrate, and bottled juice.
“When we first started, there were a lot of mortalities in our cuttings but my husband is passionate about farming, so he studied how to grow the cuttings properly,” Mary Grace shared.
Ritchie shared that their decision to grow mulberries was driven by the fruit’s nutritional value and potential health benefits.
“The reason why we focused on growing mulberries is because we saw its many health benefits. It’s a super fruit,” Ritchie added.
He also shared their plans to expand the business by producing mulberry wine.
“Our future plans for the business is to really establish our mulberry products, right now, we have mulberry jam, concentrate, and juice. In the future, we want to have wine products,” Ritchie aded.
In 2024, their mulberry concentrate won in the food category of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte’s (PGIN) search for outstanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), a program that provides cash prizes and mentorship to boost local enterprises.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) 1 also featured the farm as the first stop in its “May-Kan (Come): Find the Juan in Region 1” tour from April 1 to 7, which aims to promote agri-tourism through curated travel experiences.
According to Divine Dulay of DOT-Region 1, the initiative aims to help travel operators create tour packages that highlight both farming and local culture.
“This platform will allow travel operators to develop tour packages so they can promote to their customers which will result in more visitors to sustain the business of the featured stops,” she said.
The farm is currently undergoing DOT accreditation to become an official agri-tourism site and is temporarily closed until May 2025 to ensure the quality of its produce.
Mulberry seedlings and cuttings are also sold at the farm, adding to its income stream.
Government-led efforts like the May-Kan Tour help spotlight small farms like Enrigue’s, aligning with national goals to promote sustainable, community-driven tourism across regions. (CCMT/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
