DAVAO CITY — The Durian Industry Association of Davao City (DIADC) on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, said that they expect to start shipping fresh Durian to China next month.
Department of Agriculture-Office of the Agriculture Counsellor (OAC) to China Agriculture Attaches Ana Abejuela said that the country needs to do the first batch of export to China right.
“The first shipment is critical because the impression of the china buyers on the quality of the Philippine fresh durian needs to be assessed, which may affect the following shipments,” Abejuela said.
The DA has been busy preparing for the first shipment, said DA Region 11 Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo,.
Monteagudo said preparation for the March 2023 shipment, is closely monitoring the farms identified as exporters to China through the High-Value Commercial Crops Program (HVCDP), together with the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).
“We will be monitoring fruit-bearing trees to be harvested this coming March to assure good quality durian fruits that will be sent out as our first shipment”, Monteagudo said.
John Tan, President of Eng Seng Food Products & Group of Companies also shared his experiences with exporting durian. “We need to focus on quality and consistently uphold the export quality standards,” Tan said.
Agriculture Attaches Abejuela, Mr. Jose Laquian (Japan), Maria Alilia Maghirang (South Korea), and Nolet Fulgencio (Middle East and Africa) visited include Belviz Durian Farm and the Durian facilities of Eng-Seng farm.
The purpose of their visit is to monitor the status of preparations of durian farms accreditations as well as observe farm protocol to ensure that the products that will be exported to China will suit not only the taste but will also meet the expectations of China buyers.
At present, the Philippines is China’s largest source of bananas and pineapples. Soon the “King of Fruits” durian will soon be exported to China.
