Fiji papaya arrives in New Zealand

[Stacey King]

Pacific Island Trade and investment Pacific Periscope: 24 March 2011

Photo / Kyle Stice
A shipment of papaya grown on the Fijian island of Taveuni arrived in New Zealand last week. This is a significant event given that it is the first major shipment in many years to have arrived by surface freight.

Papaya and other fruit from Fiji are normally airfreighted into New Zealand. Fiji papaya has a good demand in New Zealand’s urban centres and has played second fiddle to the more easily available varieties originating from other countries such as the Philippines.

The 1300-carton shipment that arrived this week passed muster with New Zealand’s strict quarantine regulations and raises hopes for other farmers and growers from Fiji and other Pacific Islands of exporting their produce in greater quantities by the cheaper surface freight as compared to shipping by air.

Several agencies played a role in making this inaugural shipment of Fijian papaya by surface freight possible. The Pacific Island Trade & Invest’s Auckland based trade office was proud to be involved.

 

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