Potential food products from Batanes berries to be explored

Manila, Philippines -  Batanes is well known for its picturesque landscape of verdant rolling hills and lush mountains, its iconic stone houses, its raw climate and its unique cultural heritage. 

However, Batanes is also home to an indigenous tree, Arius (Podocarpus costalis), which the lvatans refer to as “Batanes pines”. 

The tree, which grows 1-2.5 meters in height, abundantly grows in the province and is mainly used for its aesthetic value.

It is grown in the provincial park and town plazas, school grounds, church yards, backyards, along roads, and other parade areas of the province for better appreciation of their landscape.

During the Christmas season, the locals trim the Arius to resemble Christmas trees and place it on their lawns as a decorative accent.

Locals also reveal that they use Arius for bonsai which is excellent for landscaping. 

Arius bears berry-like, fleshy fruits which become brightly colored from red to purple when mature. As these berries are not popularly eaten in the province, they are eaten just by birds which then disperse the seeds in their droppings.  

When a local is asked how the berry taste like, they would usually say, “masarap, matamis, medyo malagkit (delicious, sweet, somewhat sticky).”

Since most of the locals are not aware that the fruits are actually edible, most of the fruits just rot and decay and are left unutilized.

 Looking into the potential of this indigenous tree and its carbohydrate-rich berries, Dr. Roger G. Baltazar, director for research and extension of the Batanes State College (BaSCO), submitted a proposed study to the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) for funding.

The bureau has been keen on supporting R&D initiatives that gives particular importance to the country’s indigenous plants and the need to tap and utilize them for their potentials. 

The project is funded under the bureau’s banner program, the National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) which gives priorities to R&D breakthroughs and mature technologies generated and developed by research institutions.

The program serves as a vital ingredient in the development of enterprises and the improvement of agriculture and fisheries-related industries. 

The study, “Processing Technology Development and Utilization for Organically Grown Arius Fruits in Batanes” aims to develop technologies that could be used in the processing of organically-grown Arius fruits and other value-adding activities that would provide highly-marketable products from the Batanes berries. 

Among the Arius-based products that could be developed are wine, pastillas, tart, jam, preserved fruits, and teas. 

The project has been recently approved by BAR for funding, allotting P1.6 million to further promote the cultivation of Arius and create livelihood in the province through the commercialization of its food products.

Given the agro-climatic condition of Batanes which is suited for growing the Arius tree, the project is also seen to further promote the indigenous tree which is seen to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

It was also pointed out that the Arius trees bear fruits only in Batanes. This was proven when one Batanes visitor tried to grow the tree in the lowlands. The replanted tree grew but did not bear fruit. 

According to Dr. Baltazar, the Arius trees are in season and bear fruits during summer (April and May), but its berries are ready for picking usually from July to October.

Berries to be used for the project must be handpicked from the trees and placed in plastic containers so that they are not scratched and smashed during the transport process.

The proponent added that the products which would be developed would still have to be tested for market acceptability.