The weather has had a lot to do with this. In 2014, the company shipped 520 containers, but so far this year only 300 have been exported. “Because of the weather, sizes now are also very small (9, 10 and even 12), but in November, they will be bigger again (5, 6, 7 and 8); that will allow us to better cover consumer preferences.” He affirms that “most of our pineapples go to the Middle East: Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc.”
Evita Banana Trading Fresh is strongly committed to quality control. Abbas assures that all pineapples harvested must reach the packing house in what they call ‘colour zero’ (bark green). “When the fruit reaches Dubai, for example, the fruit starts turning into ‘colour one’, and later it reaches ‘colour two’, which means it’s sweet enough to eat. This gives the customer 10-12 days to sell the fruit at the supermarket.”
To make this possible, Abbas explains that the fruit is transported at 7.2 degrees in reefer containers, with transit times normally no longer than 22 days.
While Philippine pineapples face competition from other large exporters, Abbas states that in the Middle East they actually prefer the MD2 from the Philippines, even over those from India or Sri Lanka. He says that this has plenty to do with the soil, which is much better than in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala or Sri Lanka. Our fruit is tastier, because the soil gives it taste.
Evita Banana Trading Company also has inspectors keeping track of the entire harvest and packing process, and this, together with the growing popularity of the fruit, entails good prospects for Philippine pineapples. “In the Philippines, pineapple and banana plantations are both growing. Globally speaking, demand is higher than supply, so the plan is to continue planting,” he concludes.
For more information:
Mr. Hassan Abbas
Evita Banana Trading
Email: evitabanana@gmail.com
Tel: 0063 82 235 1548