Maritess Madera shows newly harvested organic Romaine lettuce from Francis Ching’s Farm in Benguet. (Melpha Abello photo)

MARITESS MADERA of the Department of Agriculture shows newly harvested organic Romaine lettuce produced under greenhouse at the three-hectare farm of Francis Ching in Cada, Mankayan, Benguet, during a recent visit.

Ching harvests five tons of lettuce a week which he sells to high-end markets in Manila through his partners like Dole-Asia, Pureharvest Food Processing and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

By using greenhouses, Ching successfully produces high-value vegetables and strawberries year-round without using chemical pesticides.

Ching was conferred the 2011 Gawad Saka award for high-value commercial crops.