Export of vegetables, fruits to Singapore starts next week

Agriculture department officials revealed on Wednesday that the country will export vegetables and other high value crops to Singapore for the very first time.   The first, trial batch of solo papaya, squash, coriander, capsicum, bananas and pineapple will be shipped out next week to Green N Fresh Ltd. Pte, which, according to Jennifer Remonquillo of the High Value Commercial Crops national program, supplies nearly 80 percent of the vegetable requirements of Singapore.   Remonquillo said keeping the vegetables and fruits fresh is the toughest challenge in exporting these kinds of produce to Singapore because of their highly perishable nature.   She said the Department of Agriculture will likely coordinate with the airlines for “special arrangements” on how the high value crops will be kept fresh and intact during transport.   Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the other challenge is how to meet the volume of the demand for vegetables and fruits in Singapore.   He cited as examples the demand levels for coriander, which the city state needs 1,500 kilos of, but the current capacity of Filipino growers is only 500 kilos weekly.  Alcala added that Singapore’s requirement for squash is 4 metric tons per week.   The DA chief explained how crucial the first shipment will be. “The trial shipments will determine the preference of the Singaporean market. We are willing to adjust to their requirements as long as they are not over and above our capacity,” Alcala said.   Agriculture officials are also working out details on how Filipino exporters can supply fresh and choice cuts of pork to the Singapore market. — ELR, GMA News