MANILA, Philippines — Mango growers from all over the country shipped 15,000 kilos of mangoes to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) central office in Quezon City to join the metrowide sale of the tropical fruit.
The agency’s Metro Mango program — a series of selling events meant to reduce the surplus of 2 million kilos of mango in the country — proved to be a sweet endeavor, with hundreds of consumers and government employees lining up to buy.
World’s best
Guimaras mangoes, considered some of the world’s best, would usually sell at P200 a kilo during off-season. But with the oversupply of the fruit, the mangoes went for P80 a kilo at the event.
Farmers from General Santos City and the provinces of Zambales, La Union, Rizal and Nueva Ecija participated in the sale.
Mango processing companies also offered mango “otap,” mango bars, “serafica,” mango vinegar and mango wine.
“There are 15 tons of mangoes here at the DA office. [They were] wiped out in less than three hours. This only proves that the farmers just need to be linked to the market,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.
The department’s Metro Mango sale will also be held in other cities across the country. —Karl R. Ocampo