Filipino mangoes have officially made their way to Italy, marking a milestone for the country’s agricultural exports. For the first time, boxes of the iconic sweet and tangy fruit—sourced from farms in Pangasinan—arrived at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Sunday, June 1, the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. called the moment “historic,” underscoring the growing demand for Philippine produce in international markets. “It’s a proud day for our mango farmers,” he added in an earlier statement.
The Bureau of Plant Industry’s director, Glenn Panganiban, emphasized that the successful shipment was the result of years of strict compliance with European plant health standards. “Many Philippine mango farms already comply with Italy’s strict plant health standards, making this expansion feasible and sustainable,” he explained.
The effort to bring Filipino mangoes to Italian shelves was made possible through the collaboration of Filipino entrepreneurs and members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Italy, according to DA attaché to Italy Josyline Javelosa. She credited “a dynamic group of Filipino small business owners in Rome” for driving the initiative.
Looking ahead, Tiu Laurel is expected to present a $50-million investment proposal in Rome this October, aimed at boosting support for over 27,000 mango farming households in the Philippines—ensuring that the sweet success of this export continues to grow.
