Exporters of the country's fresh fruits and vegetables can diversify export markets and should find good opportunities in Europe as a new market to trade farm produce from the Philippines, the European Chamber of Commerce of Philippines (ECCP) said.

ECCP Executive Vice President Henry Schumacher said over the weekend that the country’s participation in the recent Fruit Logistica Germany, an annual agricultural trade show, has opened new trading opportunities for Philippine farm products.

“During the expo, we have seen a demand for good quality fruits and vegetables from the Philippines in the world’s fresh produce market,” said Schumacher.

He said the presence of a Philippine Pavilion at the trade show boosted the public-private sector efforts to further expand and diversify the markets for locally produced fruits and vegetables.

“We believe that fresh produce coming from the Philippines can be competitive in the European market and Fruit Logistica was the best venue to showcase the country,” Schumacher said.

With assistance coming from the Department of Agriculture Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, the ECCP was able to send four Philippine companies to the annual expo.

The four companies were Flora Integrated Farms Inc., pineapples; Refmad-V Enterprise, dragon fruit; Agrinurture Inc., pineapples, bananas and mangoes; and Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc., bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papaya.

Among the countries that have shown interest in Philippine farm products during the expo include Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

“Fruit Logistica has opened a gate of opportunity for the Philippines to establish its growing significance as an international supplier of fresh produce to the world market,” Schumacher said.

Fruit Logistica, participated by 78 countries, is the leading trade fair for the international fresh produce and industry innovations in the agriculture industry.

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin led by Ambassador Mardomel Celo Melicor, First Secretary and Consul in Berlin Adrian Elmer Cruz, Commercial Counsellor Jose Antonio Buencamino, and Agricultural Attaché Pit Laquian assisted the ECCP during the expo.

Source: Manila Bulletin; Trade; 18 March 2013