Philippine bananas coming to a store near you
Mexican bananas at Seafood City. Pretty soon, Philippine ‘latondan’ and ‘lakatan’ will be available at groceries’ produce aisles. TFLA photo
PANORAMA CITY, Calif. — Philippine highland Cavendish bananas, popularly known to Filipinos as “lakatan” and “latondan,” will now be available in the U.S., initially in California, some eight years after Philippine banana producers began eyeing the U.S. mainland market, according to the Philippine Embassy on September 14th. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia said the Philippines will thus be the first Asian country to export bananas to the United States.
The first shipment of seven tons of highland Cavendish variety from Bukidnon, Philippines arrived at the port of Long Beach on September 9th and were transported to a ripening warehouse in preparation for distribution to Los Angeles area markets the following week.
Consul General Hellen Barber-dela Vega, Agricultural Attaché Josylin Javelosa and Trade Representative Jose Dinsay were on hand to witness the transfer of the first shipment of the popular Philippine bananas to the warehouse.
The Philippine banana varieties will be sold under the Sweetio brand of Dole Food Company imported from Dole Philippines, which expects to export a total of 3,000 tons of bananas this year for a start.
“Philippine bananas are among the best in the world, and there is opportunity to bring in the unique and special varieties which Filipinos in the U.S. have long been craving for and which Americans can learn to love,” said Javelosa.
The United States, the EU and Japan are the major importers of the fruit in the world accounting for 56 percent of total banana exports from world banana producers, according to industry sources.
Presently, the Philippines is one of the top five banana producers in the world along with Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica but has been unable to participate in the 94 percent share of the U.S. market. Honduras has taken the place of the Philippines in U.S. exports.
“We also hope that this will be the beginning of the increased access of Philippine bananas to North America.” said Ambassador Cuisia.
The first mention of Philippine Cavendish variety bananas entering the U.S. was mid-May this year when the Philippine Department of Agriculture announced that the maiden shipment of Philippine bananas were to be supplied first to American defense commissaries but this was moved back due to a delay on the processing of protocol papers, it was reported by industry sources. There is no explanation, however, for the change of shipment destination from the commissaries directly to the open markets by the Philippine agricultural department.
While the Philippine bananas are not yet available this week at the local markets, an impromptu poll showed Filipino American grocery shoppers are excited to hear about the coming availability of the Filipino “latondan” and “lakatan” variety, including Emil Barrameda who said he will have more incentive to drive from his Lancaster, California residence of several decades, to Panorama City for produce. “I’d love to have a taste again of what I grew up with,” he said.
Tess Uson Santos, a Vallejo resident and frequent visitor to families in the Southland is excited upon hearing about the coming of Philippine bananas in Los Angeles: “There is nothing like ‘lakatan’ and ‘latundan.’ For me they’re the best banana variety. I’m drooling now; can’t wait to see them in stores near me.”
Asked about the coming of the new products, Maria, a checker from Seafood, though was unexpectedly surprised to hear about the new shipment. “Ay talaga (Really)? Buyers would not mind driving from long distances to get them.”
Consul General Hellen Barber Dela Vega (in blue blouse), Agriculture Attache Josyline Javelosa and Trade Representative Jose Dinsay join Yvonne Rentmeester, Dole Manager for Merchandising and Technical Services, and Kerry Genglen of Umina Bros. Inc., in welcoming the first banana shipment at the ripening warehouse in Los Angeles. Philippine Consulate photo