MANILA, Philippines – Japan’s strawberries, known for their sweetness, will soon make their way to Manila following the lifting of an export ban on Sunday, December 15. 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan struck an agreement with Philippine authorities on the quarantine conditions required to export fresh strawberries.

MAFF said in a press release that they held “repeated technical discussions” with Philippine authorities to set the quarantine requirements, as a response to requests from producers.

“Thanks to the agreement between MAFF and PH authorities, these berry-delicious exports are good to go! Who’s excited for this fruity milestone?” Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Endo Kazuya posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Philippines had imposed a ban on Japan’s strawberries due to pests such as Drosophila suzukii. Part of the agreement between the two countries now involves the investigation of occurrence of pests at production facilities.

Strawberries are used in popular Japanese desserts like strawberry shortcakes and mochis. These are often cultivated in greenhouses, which enables producers to meet the demand for strawberries in winter months. 

The Philippines and Japan have been working together to expand agricultural relations. 

In November, the Philippines started exporting Hass avocados to Japan, becoming the first Asian country to export the variety to her northeast Asian neighbor.

Philippine agricultural exports to Japan include tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and papayas. – Rappler.com