The Philippines will start shipping fresh mangoes to Australia starting this June, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

In a release, the agency said arrangements are being made with 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.

Since 2016, protocols have been in place for the export of mangoes to Australia and the Specific Commodity Understanding (SCU).

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 Bureau of Plant Industry-National Plant Quarantine Services Division.

For many years, the DFA said Australians have been enjoying dried mangoes which have become a popular healthy snack in Australia.

“It is now time for Aussies to enjoy our much beloved fruit in the Philippines,” said Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega as she highlighted the volume of mangoes the country yield all-year round while Australia produces its own mangoes only from September through April.

Philippine Trade Representative to Australia Alma Argayoso, for her part, said there had been an interest in mango exports in the past but previous plans were 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,” she said.

Pre-ordering of mangoes is available for sub-distributors and retailers at www.philippinemango.com.au.

Australia has been supportive of the Philippines’ efforts to improve agricultural trade, particularly the exports of mangoes, said Argayoso.

In 2018, the Australian Embassy in the Philippines reported that the Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) provided AUSD1.1 million funding for a four-year project which passed on farming technology that improved mango quality and size for Davao farmers. (PNA)