According to Sembikiya Fruit Co. Ltd., Manila should improve its logistics infrastructure to optimize Filipino shipments of bananas and pineapples to Japan. The company, considered one of Japan’s oldest fruit shops that imports from the Philippines, said it is experiencing logistics issues and is having difficulties importing local fruits.
Company President Hiroshi Oshima: “Recently, the Filipino banana is not being stably transported or imported into Japan. So Ecuadorian bananas are gaining more share in the Japanese banana market,” adding that the fruit company processes imported fruit, adds value to it then turns it into a ‘Sembikiya-branded product’.
Oshima said it is important that the original fruit is of “high quality” and that the supply is stable throughout the year. He also said he met with Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual to discuss not only the supply of Philippine fruits, but also his quality concerns in light of climate change.
“We met with Minister Pascual of [Department of Trade and Industry] DTI and I actually made two requests to the minister that due to climate change, the quality is quite unstable. Due to the climate, we want more improvement in the variety which is less susceptible to the impact of climate change.”
Source: businessmirror.com.ph
