Filtered By: Money
Money

Blueberries from Polomolok? Dole-Phils eyes plantation


If plans go well, Mindanao may soon be known as a major plantation site for blueberries, online news site MindaNews (www.mindanews.com) reported. The report said pineapple giant Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) is conducting experiments on the practicality of producing blueberries in Polomolok town in South Cotabato. It said a senior Dolefil executive confirmed recently the trial planting of the crop. The executive said they had imported 12 blueberry varieties from the United States. Of these, he said “three to four are showing promise." On the other hand, officials in Sarangani province said Dolefil is also scouting for possible blueberry production sites in the area. Alberto Arquillano, municipal planning and development office chief of Maasim town in Sarangani province, said Dolefil has been scouting the area for possible blueberry production. “The town can provide them at least 50 hectares if the company will decide to grow blueberries here," he said. The Dolefil executive did not elaborate but said that if the blueberries will be successfully tested, they would market them in fresh frozen form also in the United States. “Blueberry has a very huge demand in the United States as consumers have shifted to it instead of peaches and the like," the executive said. He added that if the experiment succeeds, the company will cultivate the crop in areas with “higher elevation." Blueberries thrive in cooler climates. Dolefil had been testing the suitability of the crop since last year at the Kalsangi district in Polomolok, an exclusive residential area for top Dolefil executives. The source said that if the experiment is successful, the company will cultivate the crop through contract growing schemes at areas with higher elevation. “We will transfer the technology to those who are willing to raise the crop if ever the adoptability test says so. We are very particular on the quality of the fruits," he said. South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes said the high-value crop “would enhance the province’s image as an agricultural producer." Dolefil ventured in Polomolok since 1963 and maintains at least 10,000 hectares of pineapple plantation through a rental scheme aside from the 6,000 hectares planted by contract growers. The regional Department of Trade and Industry said canned and fresh pineapple largely produced by Dolefil reached export sales of about US$696 million from 1997 to 2004 alone, or an average of US$99 million a year (around P4.9 billion). - GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT