THE Philippines has exported its first-ever commercial shipment of fresh Carabao mangoes to Vancouver, Canada, further expanding access to new markets.
The 1-metric-ton (MT) shipment, comprising 250 cartons, left the Naia Complex in Parañaque City on September 18, bound for Vancouver.
Fresh Makers Ltd., a Vancouver-based distributor serving supermarkets and institutional buyers, is importing the mangoes, with Air Canada handling the air transport and Airspeed Cargo providing logistics support.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the shipment forms part of the government’s broader strategy to open new markets for Philippine farm products and raise agricultural export earnings.
‘Opening new markets means opening new opportunities for our farmers. When we can sell more Philippine agricultural products abroad, we create opportunities to increase farm incomes, encourage more investment in agriculture, and bring greater economic activity to the countryside,’ Tiu Laurel said.
He added that stronger farm exports could generate opportunities across the farm-to-market value chain, from production and consolidation to logistics, processing, and distribution.
The sendoff was made possible by a partnership between Mensch FilAm Corp. and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) under its Outbound Business Matching Mission program.
FilAm President and CEO Racquel Simon stressed the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in bringing local farm products to international consumers.
‘This shipment represents not only the pride of Filipino farmers but also the strength of public-private partnerships in bringing our agricultural products to the global stage,’ Simon said.
For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has been ramping up its efforts to bolster the domestic mango industry’s capacity to meet export requirements and sustain access to international markets.
The agency added that over 40 mango growers’ groups have been consolidated into a single federation to improve industry coordination, supply consolidation, and market access.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), an attached agency of the DA, is also tackling disease concerns affecting mango production and strengthening plant health measures needed to meet export market requirements.
BPI and Mitsui and Co. also forged an agreement to support the development of the Philippine mango industry, further enhancing efforts to expand opportunities for local mango growers and exporters.
‘For mango growers, the real test begins after the ceremonial send-off. Sustained orders, competitive freight costs, consistent quality, and reliable supply will determine whether Canada becomes a durable market for Carabao mangoes, rather than simply another destination on the export map.’