The Philippines' Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has expressed optimism for fruit exporters, citing new opportunities for bananas in the U.S. and mangoes in Australia.

A BPI release mentioned the first commercial export of Philippine bananas to the continental United States took place in August last year, and since then there have been ongoing negotiations to open up markets in other U.S. territories such as Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii.

BPI Director Clarito Barron said banana exports from the island of Mindanao to the U.S. "will definitely lead to an increase in the country's revenue and therefore boost our banana industry".

Barron also highlighted the U.S. Animal Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) declaration of most of the Philippines as a freedom area for mango pulp and seed weevil in February last year was a good development, allowing all provinces except Palawan to ship fruit to the market while also enticing other countries to import.

Following this development came the Special Commodity of Understanding for the export of Philippine mangoes to Australia, which was signed in Canberra in July, 2013.

"Mangoes from Guimaras and Samal Islands, as well as Davao del Sur entered the Australian market on June 8, 2013. The Six shipments from June 8 to July 10, 2013 to Melbourne and Adelaide, has a total volume of 4.76 metric tons (MT) and is equivalent to a total value of US$14,587," the release said.

"This signals the acceptance of the Australian government of the country's mango not only sourced from the Island of Guimaras but to other areas as well, as a result of regular bilateral talks with Australian government."

Photo:www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com