RP to export mangoes to US

After 15 years of negotiations, the United States government has finally given the green light for the export of the Philippines’ national fruit.

The first shipment of mangoes to the US is scheduled this week.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said this move is both historically and economically significant since it is the first time that the country’s mangoes will reach the US in their fresh form.

This opens up a huge opportunity for the Philippines to penetrate the $220-million US fresh mango export trade, which is being dominated by Mexico.

"For over 10 years now, our mangoes have been marketed in America in dried form, in puree, and in other processed ways," the DA said.

"To celebrate the June 12 Independence Day, eight Philippine consulates in the US have also sought DA assistance in coordinating efforts of mango exporters to deliver at least 150 boxes or 3,750 kilograms of fresh mango to be served during the traditional Independence Day lunches and dinner," the DA said.

The initial trial export of the fresh mangoes to the US will consist of about 200 to 400 boxes of mango grown in Guimaras Island. They will be flown to Los Angeles, California by one of four local fruit companies that got permission from the Bureau of Plant Industry and the US agriculture department.

The mangoes will undergo tests in the Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig before being shipped to the US. A team of US quarantine inspectors has visited the country’s four existing vapor heat treatment (VHT) facilities, which passed the rigid US accreditation procedures.

The same facility was used in testing the fresh local mangoes being exported to Japan, South Korea and Australia.

"Since non-Guimaras mangoes are not allowed to be shipped to the US, local exporters estimate the country may only be able to ship from 900 to 1,000 metric tons of mangoes to the US this year, which is the amount of export grade volume of harvest for this year’s cropping period," the DA said.

The DA then launched an aggressive fresh mango and processed-mango marketing campaign in the US, with its officials and mango exporting companies participating in the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago on May 18 to 21.