Tongan squash exports better quality but smaller harvest [1]
Friday, October 23, 2009 - 21:52. Updated on Thursday, August 21, 2014 - 15:16.
Tonga's Squash Industry is targeting to export a total of 1,600 tonnes of squash to Japan and South Korea, a decrease from the 2,400 tonnes exported last year.
Nishi Trading Company Ltd., Tonga's largest squash exporter, is targeting exports of up to 900 tonnes.
Minolu Nishi Jr, the Director of Nishi Trading Company Ltd, said although they are exporting less than the 1,100 tonnes exported last year they have substituted it with bigger-sized squash this year.
"Last year we had smaller squash so we had to grow more to fill the boxes," he said.
Nishi Trading have so far exported 400 tonnes of squash with four more shipments to go before the end of November.
"Our yield could have been better this year but the weather worked in our favour and we harvested good quality squash," he said.
With good weather the export of baby squash to South Korea will be only at five percent out of the total tonnage in comparison to last year's 30 percent.
Minolu said that the drop in the total tonnage of exports this year is due to having no growers apart from the exporters themselves.
"This year we have only three exporters who were also the sole growers including Nishi, Axis Exporters and Global Squash Exporters. There were four squash exporters last year."
Despite the setback that saw the decline of squash exports in the last 10 years, Minolu is confident that the Tonga Squash Industry will survive.
"This is because we have nothing to export apart from the squash and if we continue to manage it well and develop the industry it will continue," he said.
Minolu added they have been guaranteed prices for their squash but could not confirm it at this stage.