Davao ‘Saba’ bananas enter Australian market

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) reported on Wednesday about the first export shipment of Frozen Whole Steamed Saba (Cardava banana) to Australia on Sept. 22.

The exportation was facilitated through the DA-11’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).

In a statement, DA-11 regional technical director for operations Marie Ann Constantino said the initial shipment of 7,000 kilograms of steamed Cardava bananas, processed by Golden Flavours, is scheduled to sail on Oct. 3.

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Tentatively, the cargo will arrive in Australia on Nov. 3.

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The bananas, harvested at 90 to 100 percent maturity, are blast-frozen at –18°C, giving the product a shelf life of up to one year.

Constantino said the initiative stemmed from the Sabah International Expo 2026, which created opportunities for local agribusiness stakeholders to explore overseas markets.

She emphasized the need to expand market access for Filipino food products while boosting farmers’ incomes.

“This is not only about bringing Filipino products to the international market. It is also about giving our farmers an opportunity to earn more from their produce,” Constantino said.

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Golden Flavours general manager Razel Ann Suy Tan said the project also aims to maximize the use of local commodities and create livelihood opportunities for Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities.

“More importantly, we want this opportunity to directly benefit our IP communities by providing them with a market for their produce and helping create a sustainable source of livelihood,” Tan said.

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She added that developing processed products from local resources can help stabilize markets and ensure producers remain part of the value chain. /apl