PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — THE Philippine mangoes would soon invade the markets of China after it allowed at least eight local companies to export mangoes in said country, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.
DA Secretary Arthur Yap said that the exportation of mangoes in China starting this month would benefit the country’s 2.5 million growers of this premier tropical fruit export.
The eight companies that were given a go-signal to export their produce are the Fruitful Harvest Corporation, Mabuhay 2000 Incorporated, Phil-Harvest Agro Marketing Corporation, Diamond Star Agro Products Inc., DHM Philippine Produce Inc., Wenatchee Marketing Corporation, HiLas Marketing Corporation and Marsman Drysdale Food Corporation.
Yap disclosed that Undersecretary for Special Concerns Berna Romulo-Puyat received the positive development in a letter dated April 18 sent by Liang Wentao, the Chinese Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Counselor.
As this developed, leaders of the mango industry immediately thanked Sec. Yap for helping them secure Beijing’s approval to export the Philippine fruit to China.
Yap said Beijing’s move would further strengthen existing bilateral ties between the two countries.
“Our exporters have fully complied with the requirements for extended hot water treatment as specified last year by inspectors and technical staff from AQSIQ. Beijing’s nod to the treatment facilities set up by our mango exporters is very timely because this is now the peak of the mango harvest season,” Yap added.
Puyat, on the other hand, said Beijing gave the go-signal after officials from its General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) visited Manila last month to check on food safety and treatment facilities for Philippine mango exports.
China earlier accepted the cheaper but effective Extended Hot Water Treatment (EHWT) that the DA had developed in tandem with the country’s premier research institutions as a qualified technology to ensure that Philippine mango exports meet global food-safety standards.
Mango is among the Philippines’ top exports to China, which accounts for about 80% of total overseas sales of this tropical fruit.