Aside from Toril, Davao city’s fruit producing areas include the districts of Calinan, Baguio and Tugbok although fruits from other provinces, like Kidapawan in North Cotabao, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur also find their way to the city.
Even the fruit stands notice the decline of fruit produce this fruit season.
“At around this time last year, all kinds of fruits have arrived,” observed Margie Sonora, 66, a fruit seller at the Rose Fruitmart on Ponciano. “We have fruits like durians and lanzones, spilling over the pavement,” she said. “But now, theyre so few.”
She recalled that durian prices plunged down to as low as P20 per kilo during the peak season last year. “Now, the cheapest is P50 to P70 per kilo,” Sonora said. “Rambutan, which sold at P35 per kilo at around last year, is still at P80 per kilo for the fresh harvest. The price goes down to P50 per kilo the following day,” she said. “Last year, mangosteen sold at P20 per kilo, now it is selling at P300 per kilo.”
Tabay said oversupply had plunged fruit prices down in the previous fruit seasons. “Before there used to be only five durian trees in our backyard,” he said. “But now, more people are planting them.”
A report from the National Statistics and Census Board (NSCB) showed that there are 2,653 hectares devoted to durian production in the city, with yield reaching 15,116 metric tons in 2004. The fruit trees are among the high value commercial crops that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has encouraged farmers to plant.
But although there has been an abundance of the fruit for each season, durian is not included in the region’s top export as yet.
According to Trade Assistant Secretary Merly Cruz the region is not exporting durian just as yet because the volume could not yet meet the demands of importing countries. (Germelina Lacorte/davaotoday.com)
Food
