As a kid, you observed various fruits on the table during the Christmas season, including mangoes, oranges, grapes, and apples. As you grow up, you see mango trees, orange orchards, and grape vines. However, what about apples?
It was not until when you were in high school that you discovered apples do not grow in the Philippines. Apples are temperate fruits and do not flourish in a tropical environment like the Philippines.
Nevertheless, you still yearned to see apples growing on trees, perhaps during a future visit to the United States. Yet, as a teenager, this aspiration seemed unattainable. In a bold move, you decided to plant an apple tree in your backyard.
You bought apples from the public market, extracted the seeds, and placed them in a tissue, following the guidance of books you had read. Weeks later, you noticed some seedlings emerging. Out of the three seedlings that came out, only one managed to survive. This was still a positive outcome. You patiently awaited the tree to produce fruit, but after several years, it never did.
This is the story of Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe, a man who successfully grow apples in the Philippines. His achievement introduced a temperate fruit to a tropical country, thereby transforming the agricultural landscape.
Benzone accomplished what was once deemed “impossible.” While both experts and the general public believed that apples could only thrive in colder climates, he demonstrated otherwise by cultivating hundreds of apple trees.
The apples produced on his farm are of exceptional quality. Visitors and researchers alike are astonished to find that his apples are as crunchy and juicy as those imported from abroad. More importantly, his homegrown apples have been tested and found to possess a notably high sugar content, making them very sweet.
Benzone was already enrolled in college, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a specialization in Horticulture, when he began experimenting with apple cultivation in sitio Marawer, located in barangay Kapatagan, Digos City. This area enjoys a slightly cooler climate due to its proximity to Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines.
“My interest in planting apples was sparked by sheer curiosity after purchasing Fuji apples from the mall,” he recounted.
He successfully extracted three seeds, which he planted in a seashell with tissue. To his surprise, they began to sprout. Once the apple seedlings grew to a height of five inches, he transferred them to seedling bags. After six months, he planted the young apple seedlings on the ground. Unfortunately, only one plant survived.
In early 2018, he observed flowers beginning to bloom on the tree. Three weeks later, he was delighted to see that the flowers had developed into fruit buds. From this single tree, he was able to harvest 32 ripe apples.
“The apple I harvested from my farm was indistinguishable from the ones I purchased at the public market, as it retained the same juiciness and crunchiness,” Benzone said.
Benzone brought several apples to Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) for “Brix” testing, which evaluates sugar content and is an essential aspect of agricultural product quality assessment.
The results revealed that the apples he cultivated had a notably higher sweetness level, achieving a score of 17.5 degrees Brix, compared to the 13 degrees noted for commercial apples. He stressed that the quality of apples meant for export must meet a minimum standard of 12 degrees.
In an exclusive interview, Benzone revealed that his passion for apple cultivation was ignited during a two-month educational trip to South Korea focused on farming. During one of the excursions, he came across an agricultural magazine showcasing farmers who successfully grow tropical fruits in a cold climate. With the appropriate techniques and technology, Korean farmers manage to cultivate mangoes effectively.
“If they can grow our tropical fruits, why can’t we grow their temperate fruits in our country?” he pondered.
Upon returning to the Philippines, he revisited the apple tree he had planted in his backyard. Inspired by his experiences abroad, he began to cultivate apples. “I conducted research online and read articles about apple propagation,” he stated.
Currently, there are over 30 apple trees thriving in the home yard, while the other apple trees are situated in front of their church. Benzone also grows apples along with various other fruit trees on a two-hectare plot in sitio Balatikan and Marawer, which is just a few kilometers from his farm in Kapatagan.
Benzone aims to enhance his planting activities as a way to aid in the reforestation of Kapatagan, an area that has experienced deforestation due to banana plantations and vegetable farming. While he waits for the fruit trees to bear fruit, he grows vegetables, root crops, and herbs as understory crops.
“I must make the most of those open spaces for profit,” he states, noting that he has observed that weeds tend to thrive if no crops are planted beneath the fruit trees.
Although the apple trees are already yielding fruit, he only provides a limited amount for sale. His primary focus is on selling apple planting materials. Previously, he sold grafted apple trees that were 6 months to one year old, but due to the high demand currently, he has started selling even those that are only three months old. He offers grafted apple trees at a price of P3,500 each.
There are over 7,500 apple varieties worldwide, each with unique flavors, textures, and ideal uses, ranging from sweet and crisp to tart and firm. “I highly recommend Wambugu apples, as they thrive even in lowland areas,” he says.
Wambugu apples are a variety adapted to tropical climates, developed in Kenya, and are known for their rapid fruiting, high yields, and adaptability for cultivation around the world. “For other apple varieties, I recommend planting them at elevations of 500 meters above sea level or higher for optimal results,” he advises.
When planting apple trees, it is important not to restrict yourself to a single tree. It is recommended to plant several trees. “Since apples need cross-pollination, I suggest planting between three to five apple trees in one area,” he mentions. “If possible, include various apple varieties.”
Once the apple trees have matured and begun to produce fruit, he recommends the technique of bending branches. “Proper bending helps keep trees at a manageable size, with the thicker, upright branches benefiting the most,” he explains.
Like many fruit trees, apple trees are vulnerable to pest infestations. When the apples are still small, you can manually remove pests such as caterpillars and bugs. “There are also organic pesticides available at agricultural supply stores that can be used to control cutting and sucking insects,” he adds.
His farm is officially recognized by the government as the first Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) for apples in the Philippines. He shares his knowledge by teaching visitors and other farmers his techniques.
