Indonesia ready to penetrate US pineapple market

Following the completion of pest risk assessment of the country’s produce by the US Department of Ag…

Following the completion of pest risk assessment of the country’s produce by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Indonesia is ready to export fresh pineapples to the United States.

Head of Research and Development of the Trade Ministry Kasan Muhri stated here on Monday that the United States is the world's largest importer of pineapples, both in the fresh and dried form, with total volume of imports reaching some one million tons in 2018.

"Currently, 86 percent of the imports were supplied from Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, with import value of US$700 million. We seek access since we have the product, and the assessment is clear," he noted. Vice Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga has brought up the issue with the USDA during his working visit to the United States on November 16-21.

Muhri remarked that despite its potential as a pineapple exporter, Indonesia's exports to the country were only recorded at 5.8 tons in April 2019: "The exports thereafter seized, as the USDA was still conducting the pest risk assessment.”

In July, Indonesia had urged USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize the importation of fresh pineapples for consumption in the United States. APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment that lists potential pests that could likely remain on the commodity on importation if no mitigations were applied.

According to an article¸ the draft pest risk assessment for pineapples from Indonesia will be available for review and comments for 30 days. The USDA will thereafter take an official decision on whether to grant market access to Indonesia.