Filipino mangoes make their Canadian market debut

On June 3, the first commercial shipment of Filipino mangoes started its journey to Canadian shelves. The export was handled in Asia by Hi-Las Marketing Corp. and Castillo Import Export Ventures, Inc., and will be received in North America by Ontario’s TSI Tropicals, Inc.

The Asian country's Department of Agriculture celebrated the milestone in a send-off ceremony at the Philippine Airlines cargo terminal in Pasay City. The North American market joins Italy, which was unlocked by the local mango industry in 2025. 

Filipino mangoes make the first move

In a statement issued by the government agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that this first batch of Filipino mangoes exported to Canada forms part of a strategy to broaden the market for other categories, such as bananas and coconuts.

“This is another step toward our goal of widening and diversifying the global market for our farm products such as bananas, coconuts and mangoes. It is time for other parts of the world to get a taste of the Philippines,” Laurel said.

The financial outlet said the Philippines is also planning to unlock markets for other high-value export crops, like bananas, pineapple, okra, asparagus, pili, durian, avocado, and dragonfruit, among others.

Philip C. Young, undersecretary of the Agri Fishery Export Development and Promotion Office, said the Filipino mango shipment to Toronto demonstrates how government support and private-sector initiative can work together to open new markets for local farmers.

“The government is helping pave the way for the private sector to showcase to the world the products of Philippine farms. This is what happens when a nation works together,” he said. 

*All images courtesy of the Philippines' Department of Agriculture. 

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