Philippine mangoes make historic debut in Italy
The Philippines has made its maiden commercial shipment of fresh mangoes to Italy, marking a “historic” step toward expanding export markets for agricultural products.
In a statement on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that more than half a metric ton (500 kilos) of local mangoes landed at Fiumicino Airport in Italy, but it did not disclose the value of exports.
Mangoes, the Philippine national fruit, were sourced from farms in Pangasinan. Before shipping, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) ensured that all sanitary and phytosanitary certifications as well as Italy’s strict plant health standards had been met, the government agency said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the first batch of mango exports to the European country last week went beyond a one-off achievement, as it sent a signal to invest more in agricultural exports.
“This development should encourage our mango farmers to aim for premium quality. It also opens the door for more investment, from both the government and the private sector, to strengthen the competitiveness of Philippine mangoes globally,” Tiu Laurel said.
Agriculture Attaché to Italy Josyline Javelosa said the historic debut of Philippine mangoes in Italy was made possible by a few members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Italy, despite having no prior experience in importing fresh produce from the Philippines.
According to the agency, this development is an outcome of the technical discussions represented by the BPI’s National Plant Protection Office during conferences, such as the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures.
Tiu Laurel also said it was aligned with the Marcos administration’s broader push for the expansion of global market access for agricultural products. This was, in turn, seen to boost farmers’ income and generate more jobs and investments in the sector.
“It shows what can happen when public institutions, private initiative and overseas Filipinos work together to elevate Philippine products to global standards,” he added.
Flagship commodity
Mango is identified as a flagship commodity under the One Country One Priority Product initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which aims to build sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural value chains.
“This export milestone reflects the Philippines’ commitment to green agriculture and inclusive development,” said Javelosa, who concurrently serves as the Philippines’ Deputy Permanent Representative to United Nations Rome-based agencies, including the FAO, World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Mangoes were included in the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Investment Initiative, which matches donor and development support with national agricultural plans.
During his visit to Rome last October, Tiu Laurel presented an investment case totaling $50 million to support an additional 27,000 mango farming households.
