Future of PH bananas looking bright

MANILA, Philippines–Agriculture officials are anticipating a boost for Philippine banana growers as current talks on the possible export of the commodity to United States territories “look bright.”

According to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), local producers are studying trade prospects in Guam, the Northern Marianas and Hawaii following an initial shipment of some 6.5 tons of Cavendish Dole sweet bananas from Bukidnon to California in August 2013.

BPI director Clarito Barron said in a statement that the creation of market opportunities through bilateral relations with partner countries “has been successfully facilitated.”

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in 2013, the Philippines exported 2.9 million tons of fresh bananas—up 12 percent from 2.6 million tons the previous year.

Outbound banana shipments were valued at $912 million last year—up 41 percent from the $647 million reported in 2012.

Also, Barron said local mango growers are anticipating Washington’s grant of privilege for the export of the succulent fruit from anywhere in the Philippines except Palawan.

He said such optimism is based on the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service February 2013 findings that the fruits are free of mango pulp weevil and seed weevil—pests that render the fruit inedible.