Taiwanese fresh pineapples to gain market access to the US

The island nation of Taiwan is on the verge of gaining authorization to export fresh pineapples into the United States. 

The process, which started in 2020 with the country’s application to broaden the fruit's American destinations to include the continental US, is in its latest stages, and shipments should start toward the end of the year. 

On March 3rd, the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) opened a 62-day public comment period, during which stakeholders can submit opinions regarding the proposal until May 4, 2026. 

The government agency had already approved the importation of Taiwanese pineapples into US territory, but only to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

US import requirements for Taiwanese pineapples

According to reports by the Taiwanese newspaper Taipei Times, USDA-APHIS’s main concerns regarding the Asian country’s fruit are the entry of the oriental fruit fly and the mealybug caterpillar.

Fortunately for Taiwan, pineapples with at least 50 percent Smooth Cayenne genetic lineage don’t host these pests, making them safe for stateside import without special quarantine treatments. This requirement is met by varieties such as Golden Diamond and Mango pineapples.

The Asian island is in the top 20 of global pineapple producers, says the local Ministry of Agriculture, able to export the fruit year-round to markets such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Last year, Taiwan exported around 17 tons of pineapples, accounting for $23.6 million in sales.  

*All images are referential. 

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