Shipment of PH bananas to Japan increases after quake

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine bananas are providing sustenance to the quake and tsunami victims in Japan, agriculture department and industry official.

Roberto Amores, president of the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc., said the country’s bananas and high-value vegetables continued to be in high demand in Japan, which was struck by a devastating earthquake and tidal waves on March 11.

The country is also in the middle of a nuclear crisis after a nuclear power plant in Fukushima was damaged by the tsunami. The Fukushima nuclear accident is considered one of the worst nuclear accidents in the world.

In an interview with the Inquirer on Thursday, Amores said the country’s Class A and Class B banana shipments to Japan increased after the March 11 catastrophes.

“That is why we don’t have much bananas here. All the Class A and B are going there,” he said.

Amores said Japanese grocers sell one bunch of bananas for 200 Yen and cut it into two.

“The other half is sold to the consumer, while the other half is donated to Sendai,” he explained.

The Philippines initially offered to donate bananas to Japan after the quake. But the Japanese government turned it down because they did not have the storage and manpower to distribute the fruit.

Japan is one of the country’s main markets for bananas. A total of 95 percent of the bananas consumed in Japan come from the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture said.

Japan is not the only country interested in Philippine vegetables, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said.

Alcala said negotiations are going on between the Philippines and Singapore for the export of vegetables to that country.

“I’m talking with some traders in Singapore and we hope that in three to four months we will be sending our vegetables to Singapore. They don’t have the capability to produce,” Alcala said.