DAET, Camarines Norte - Pineapple sellers and planters in this town have blamed Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen for their financial losses resulting from the drop in the demand for pineapples from this province.

        According to reports, Alfelor-Gazmen has vowed in a local television station’s news program that she would ban pineapples from this province in her city, following reports that two residents in the city, allegedly, were poisoned after eating pineapples from this town.

        Three days after the city mayor’s declaration, demand for pineapples here reportedly had fallen, and truckloads of pineapples delivered to Albay province were sent back after being rejected by buyers.

        This province’s Department of Trade and Industry Director Ernie Pardo and Agriculturist Rodolfo Salamero expressed dismay over Alfelor-Gazmen’s pronouncement to ban pineapples from this province, which was “hastily” implemented without formal proceedings to support it.

        Salamero told Bicol Mail he doubted that eating pineapples from this town was the direct cause of the reported poisoning incidence in the city. “Maybe, they had eaten pineapples hungry or in empty stomach, that is why they had experienced stomach aches and vomiting.”

        A certain Magalona of Barangay 6 Dupax, this town, said their pineapple business was affected sorely. In their 10 years of selling pineapples, he assured, they never have received any complaint of “pineapple poisoning.”

        Selling price of pineapples here has dropped to almost 50 percent. Pineapples once sold at P4 now sell for only P2.50. Also, lower demands have turned unsold fruits to rot.

        Latest report said the Regional Agriculture Office in Bicol already has confirmed that pineapples from this province are free from any poisonous contamination including toxic substances.

        “The problem now is how could Iriga City compensate our economic losses,” pineapple sellers and planters here said, wondering why the ban coincided with their celebration of Pineapple Festival.

        But there is good news to pineapple planters here.

        Queen pineapples from this province have been in demand in Korea. OIC Regional Executive Director Jose V. Dayao said, this kind of pineapple, one of the sweetest varieties in the country, is now exported to Busan, Korea.

        Late June this year, Flora Integrated Farm Inc. entered into contract with Basud Pineapple Growers Federation and exported 7,000 kilos or 600 boxes of queen pineapple amounting to US$6 6,120. An additional 15 tons of fruits was shipped the following week. The product is labeled Flora Queen.

        Pineapples have to be matured green and should weigh from 800 to 1,100 grams or from large to extra large, respectively, to be considered for export.

        Before being exported, pineapples must undergo waxing and phyto-sanitary inspection by the Plant Quarantine Officer.

        Dayao also said the export of pineapples to Korean markets would boost the pineapple industry in this province.

        Department of Agriculture is expanding the target areas for pineapple production in Bicol. An additional 250 hectares will be planted this year.

        Grower support activities, meanwhile, continues. (with reports from M.R. Ilan-DA RFU 5)