First Philippine mangoes are expected to arrive in Australia starting June 2023
The Philippines will start shipping fresh mangoes to Australia starting June 2023.
Shipments are being arranged by FastboxPH, a Sydney-based e-commerce and logistics provider and 1Export, a one-stop platform for cross border trade and fulfillment services, with the assistance of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney (PTIC Sydney) and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry-National Plant Quarantine Services Division (BPI-NPQSD).
Protocols have been in place for the export of mangoes to Australia and the Specific Commodity Understanding (SCU), since 2016. The SCU is an arrangement document for the importation of fresh mango fruit from the Philippines to Australia under Australia’s Biosecurity Act 2015, which has been amended and updated throughout the years to include export opportunities for Filipino mango farmers, according to the BPI-NPQSD.
Philippine ambassador to Australia Hellen B De La Vega enthusiastically said Australians have been enjoying dried mangoes for many years and now the requirements had been met for fresh exports.
De La Vega highlighted that the Philippines produces mangoes all year around, while Australia produces its own mangoes for only certain months of the year, from September through April.
The winter season is the best time to make this available in the market to ensure Filipinos and Australians alike are able to enjoy the national fruit of the Philippines.
“Australia has always been supportive of our efforts to improve our agricultural trade, particularly the exports of mangoes. In 2018, the Australian Embassy in Philippines reported that the Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) provided A$1.1m grant funding to a 4-year project which passed on farming technology that improved mango quality and size for Davao farmers,” said Philippine trade representative to Australia Alma Argayoso.
Argayoso noted there has been interest in mango exports in recent years, but plans have been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our mission is to work with government authorities and industry partners to bring to Australia the highest quality Filipino products and help lift trade between our two countries,” Argayoso added.
