Jamaica can now export pineapples to Barbados

KINGSTON – Jamaica on Wednesday announced that it is now able to export pineapples commercially to Barbados.

“This new development is part of Jamaica’s thrust to expand exports to improve the country’s earnings from the agricultural sector and follows new market access opportunities in the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom,” said Chief Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspector, Sanniel Wilson Graham.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said the new measure went into effect as from October 29 and that exporters, farmers/farms producing pineapples for export must be registered with the ministry’s Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch and adhere to the export protocols.

It said these protocols include phytosanitary requirements as well as post-harvest handling, packaging and certification.

The ministry said exporters must obtain an import permit from the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Barbados before exporting the fruit.

Graham, noting that there has been an increase in the number of commodities exported to the Cayman Islands, said there has also been an expansion of the approved farmers allowed to export bananas to the British Overseas Territory.

Jamaica also resumed export of mangoes to the United States and the UK in February 2019 and April 2021 respectively. (CMC)