From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Squash exports to Japan for this year’s squash season in Tonga began in October, and the Quarantine Department reported that 10,800 tonnes of squash had been exported by the last week of October.

The Ministry of Labour was targeting 15,000 tonnes this year, and the Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture said that a survey they conducted in September showed 3,500 kgs of seeds were planted, on about 7,000 acres of land.

Harvesting was still underway and the shipments were expected to continue into November.

Last year Tonga exported 13,000 tonnes of squash to Japan earning between  60 seniti and $1.30 per kilo.