UMVA has learned that a historic milestone has been achieved in the Philippines' agricultural export industry, as the first commercial shipment of fresh Carabao mangoes to Canada has been successfully dispatched via air cargo.
The breakthrough was announced by the Department of Agriculture after a send-off ceremony at the Philippine Airlines cargo terminal in Pasay City, marking a significant expansion of the country's export market for its premium fruits.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. emphasized that this shipment is part of a broader strategy to increase the export market for bananas and coconuts, and to showcase the Philippines' rich agricultural produce to the world.
"It is time for other parts of the world to get a taste of the Philippines," Mr. Laurel said, highlighting the country's ambition to become a major player in the global fruit market.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the shipment was made possible through a program overseen by a senior official, who is driving the country's efforts to boost its agricultural exports.
The program aims to address key challenges such as volume and cost, which often hinder the export potential of many fruits. To overcome these hurdles, the Department of Agriculture plans to focus on strengthening productivity and reducing production costs to make Philippine fruits more competitive in the global market.
The Department of Agriculture is also planning to expand the markets for a wide range of fruits, including cavendish bananas, cardaba bananas, cacao, pomelo, rambutan, and durian, among others.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that two companies, Hi-Las Marketing Corp. and Castillo Import Export Ventures, Inc., were responsible for exporting the mangoes to Canada, where they will be received by Ontario's TSI Tropicals, Inc.
