MANILA, April 23 (UPI) -- The Philippines is ready to send its initial shipment of 3,300 tons of Cavendish bananas to the United States by this month, an official said.
The shipment would mark the start of Philippine banana exports to the United States and would provide a boost to the country's farm exports, the National Economic and Development Authority said in a news release.
The shipment, originally due to be made in December, was postponed because of damage caused by last year's Typhoon Pablo to banana crops in Davao region and Compostela Valley.
The Philippines is one of the largest banana exporters. Japan and South Korea are its premium markets for Cavendish bananas.
The addition of the United States would be significant as it is one of the world's top 20 banana importers, NEDA's Emmanuel Esguerra said in the release.
