MD2 pineapples from Mindanao are on their way to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the Philippines expands its exports to the Gulf region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Saturday.
MD2 — developed by the Pineapple Research Institute in Hawaii and grown in Mindanao — is a premium hybrid cultivar known as the “golden standard” of pineapples, due to its sweetness, bright-gold color, and low acidity. It yields a high amount of Vitamin C, without mouth-irritating enzymes, and boasts a prolonged shelf life suited for international export.
The shipment by Mensch Fil-Am Corp. contained 1,500 boxes or 18 metric tons of MD2 pineapples from Tampakan, South Cotabato.
The DA, through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and its Regional Field Office XII, held a ceremonial send-off for the pineapples at the Unifrutti Port in Davao City and expected to arrive June 25 or 26 at Khorfakkan Port in the UAE.
“The entry of fresh Philippine pineapples into the United Arab Emirates via commercial shipping vessels, despite severe logistical bottlenecks, reopens vital pathways to the Middle Eastern market,” said the DA.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that pineapples are now the country’s top export to the UAE.
This can help reduce the country’s agricultural trade deficit at $11.1 billion in 2025, despite a 5-percent reduction from 2024, the DA said.
“Every box of Philippine produce that reaches a new or existing market represents more income for farmers, more jobs for workers, and more value created at home. That is why we are aggressively pursuing new export opportunities for Philippine agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
“Our goal is not merely to export more products but to build a stronger and more competitive farm sector where Filipino farmers directly benefit from global market opportunities,” he added.
The shipment also shows that the industry can adhere to strict international phytosanitary standards and the UAE’s import regulation, opening the door for more exports to the Gulf region, the DA noted.
The DA has been boosting efforts to enter new markets for Philippine agricultural products to lessen reliance on imported food products.
