There are actually lucrative markets out there in a number of foreign countries for quality mangoes. What we need are quality products, whether fresh fruits or processed.
That’s what we gathered during our talk with Arthur Gamilla, sales and production executive of Agri-Fruit Freezing Corporation at the Clark Economic Zone in Angeles City. His company, Agri Freeze for short, started operations only in 2003 but has been able to export last season no less than 500 metric tons of fresh fruits, frozen halves and other processed products. It has one of the most modern facilities for handling fresh and processed fruits.
What’s most important is quality. If one has a supply of good quality products at a reasonable price, there are ready buyers abroad. Another important factor is the processing facilities. The foreign buyers would like to have a look-see of the company’s facilities, and if it is above par or within international standards, it would be easy to win the approval of foreign buyers, according to Gamilla.
Agri Freeze has no problem winning the nod of foreign buyers since it operates one of the most modern processing plants in the country. It has been awarded the HACCP (Hazard Analysis in Critical Control Points) certification. In the process is the Halal certification required for export of products to Muslim countries, particularly the Middle East.
Most of the shipments of Agri Freeze are to Japan, United States and several countries in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany). The most recent market is Hungary.
Agri Freeze presells its export products. At this time of the year, initial negotiations are being made regarding next year’s shipments. By January or February, the final volumes and prices for each buyer would be agreed upon. That way, Agri Freeze would already know its volume of production for the season. It would also know how to source its raw materials. Under this scheme, the company does not maintain any inventories. That makes marketing much simpler.
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CRYOGENIC FREEZING. Consolidated Industrial Gases, Inc. (CIGI) has installed the first cryogenic freezing facility of a food processing plant in Taguig City. Cryogenic freezing is a standard freezing technology using liquid nitrogen that doesn’t react with the food. This is much better than the more common blast freezing method. Normally with blast freezing, for example in diced mango, the mango becomes soggy when thawed. With cryogenic freezing, the fruit has minimal dripping or none at all.
Cryogenic freezing is claimed to be best for seafood and fruit products, meat, ready-meal and bakery products such as pizza dough. It is said to be more efficient, especially in controlling microbial contamination since there is less exposure to it.
CIGI is the Philippine company of BOC Gases Pse. Ltd. The BOC Group is one of the world’s leading gases companies. It has contributed to advances in many industries, including steel making, refining, chemical processing, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, food processing and distribution, etc.
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BLENDINA CONCENTRATES. Cargill Philippines has recently developed Purina Blendina, a feed concentrate that safeguards pigs against mycotoxicosis. Mycotoxicosis is a problem brought about by the use of grains and other feed materials that are contaminated by molds. Pigs consuming contaminated feeds could exhibit symptoms such as allergic reactions, loss of appetite, susceptibility to diseases, vomiting, diarrhea, abortion, prolapse and even death.
Purina Blendina is available in starter, grower and sow concentrates. It can be readily added to any of the locally available grains as well as other commercially available low-end mash feeds and table scraps.
Blendina has also the unique odor eraser that minimizes the unpleasant smell of pig manure. It also contains enzymes that help digestibility, completely breaking down feeds to release important nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, calcium and phosphorus.
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HYBRID RICE IS PROFITABLE. Raymundo Trinidad of Dalayap, Candaba, Pampanga is one fellow who believes that hybrid rice is profitable. Last planting season, he planted a 9,700 sq.m. land with SL8 hybrid rice and harvested 201 cavans of 57 kilos per cavan.
Deducting all his expenses, including provision for his labor, his net profit could be 101 cavans of palay. That’s about R77,000 when milled and sold at R25 a kilo.. He was selling his rice at R25 a kilo at the Farm Fresh Market at Clark in Angeles City when we met him recently.
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MANGO SEMINAR. Antonio S. Rola will conduct a whole day seminar on mango production on Nov. 19 at the AANI Seminar Center at the FTI Complex in Taguig City. Those interested to attend may call tel. 839-1772 for reservation or for more information.
He will discuss how to start and manage a profitable mango plantation, including selection of the right variety, care of juvenile trees, intercrops while the trees are still small, fertilizing, pruning, pest and disease control and other aspects of the mango business.
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FARMING ON RADIO. Tune in to radio station DWWW, 774 khz on the AM band, every Sunday from 4:30 to 7 o’clock in the morning and listen to Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura hosted by Anne Bernardino, Antonio S. Rola and Zac B. Sarian. The radio program has segments on fruit trees, ornamental horticulture, livestock and poultry, aquaculture, vegetables, money-making ideas, farm machinery, and other topics.
