Orange Princess, a new variety of squash that the Global Trading Company Exporters Ltd. will export to South Korea for the first time this month, could rescue Tonga's struggling Squash Industry.

'Aisake Tu'iono, the Marketing Manager for Global Trading said that their pilot shipment of only 50 tonnes for South Korea is an attempt "to offer a different variety of squash to the market place."

If the Tongan Orange Princess will wet the taste buds of the Koreans then there is a fighting chance for the struggling Tongan Squash Industry to bounce back.

'Aisake said that the main difference between the Orange Princess and the normal green variety is, "that it has a much finer taste."

Global Trading will be exporting a total of 600 tonnes this year, 50 tonnes of Orange Princess and 550 tonnes of the Epishu variety.

The Epishu variety has been the squash variety that Tonga has been exporting to Japan, and during the past two years, also to South Korea.

Global Trading is one of the big growers this year, with 400 acres, but 'Aisake admitted that the yield has not been good, with only 600 tonnes, comparing with 1000 tonnes last year.

The first shipment of Tongan squash for 2007, a total of 2500 tonnes will leave for Japan and Korea on October 24.

Stephen Edwards the Secretary General of the Tonga Squash Council said that the loading of squash onboard the vessel that has been berthed in the Nuku'alofa harbor will start on October 12. A second and the final shipment is expected to leave Tonga by early November.

The Tonga Squash Council aims to export 5,000 tonnes of squash this season, "the lowest recorded in the Tonga Squash Industry's history," said Stephen.