Phuket launches pineapple trading centre

[News Bandit]

PHUKET, Aug 21 - Thailand’s southern tourist town of Phuket officially launched a pineapple trading centre on Tuesday, the first of its kind in the province, in a move to penetrate Southeast Asian markets.
 
Vinai Kwankaew of the Phuket Agriculture Office said that pineapples have become the province’s most significant revenue-generating fruit.
 
Phuket pineapples have the unique characteristic of having a sweet flavour, tasty and yellow meat, a delicious aroma and a crispy core.
 
The provincial specialty was registered as a geographical indicator by Thailand's Intellectual Property Department on Nov 27, 2009.  Such a registration or protection of the fruit has been beneficial to farmers and traders.
 
About 40 farmers have been planting Phuket pineapples on an area of 1,800 rai (about 4,500 acres) mainly in Thalang district and part of Katoo district. The average yield is about five tons for almost three acres of land. The annual yield from the entire cultivation area is 8,000-9,000 tons.
 
The pineapples are divided into five sizes with an average price is 12 baht per fruit. The prominent fruit has generated a total revenue of Bt80 million (US$ 2.7 million) each year.   
 
Phuket Deputy Governor Somkiat Sungkaosuthirak described the fruit as a natural inheritance that has been passed on from generation to generation.
 
He said the opening of the Phuket pineapple trading centre was yet another move to penetrate neighbouring markets given the commercial advantages in 2015 when Southeast Asia becomes an ASEAN Economic Community.
 
The development and promotion of Phuket pineapples must be strategically done with cooperation from all parties concerned, said Mr Somkiat.
 
He was confident that having the pineapple trading centre would ensure consumers of the quality of the fruit.  (MCOT online news)

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