The export potential of mangosteen
Today, more and more people are realizing that there abounds in our midst a variety of tropical fruits with the capability to generate the much-need foreign exchange for our country through export. One of such tropical fruits growing in our country is mangosteen, considered by many as the queen of tropical fruits.
The nutritional and medicinal values of mangosteen have been scientifically proven more than 30 years ago. No wonder, the popularity of mangosteen as a powerful health supplement has been spreading with the consumers in different countries.
I have been told the product specialists of yesteryears at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are no more. What the DTI has today in its Export Marketing Bureau (replaced the BETP of yesteryears. BETP stands for Bureau of Export Trade Promotion) are the socalled product generalists who replaced the product specialists of yesteryears.
Mangosteen is also being exported in frozen form and in other processed forms.
Onemayask: IsthePhilippines exporting mangosteen – in its fresh state or frozen condition or in processed forms like jam, juice, wine, medicinal products or cosmetic products? Hard to say. Simply because the DTI through its Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) has lumped its statistical trade data of mangosteen with other products like mangoes and guavas. I know for a fact though that we are exporting a medicinal product in an insignificant volume to Middle East through a trader. Are you familiar with the MX3 capsules? This medicinal product from mangosteen is popular in the domestic market.
The major importing countries of mangosteen in its fresh state are Hong Kong, USA, the Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates and Australia. Thailand is one of the biggest exporting countries of mangosteen. Thai mangosteen is a favorite of many mangosteen markets because of its superior taste and outstanding quality.
There are many reforms that DTI should introduce in its EMB immediately so we can be more competitive in our export drive not only in the case of mangosteen but in other tropical fruits and food products as well. We should wake up now and do something immediately about our exports. It’s saddening that our exports for example of Cavendish bananas, shrimps, tuna, seaweeds and many, many others are going down, down the drain. It’s high time (before it’s too late), the officials in-charge of marketing our exports reduce their travel abroad and sit down and work out strategies on a product per basis and meet regularly and interact with the stakeholders per industry. Probably, it’s more advantageous to go back to the practice of adopting the “product specialist” strategy and drop the existing practice of trying to make everybody a “jack of all trade’ and expect all to know everything about all products. The honorable Secretary of Trade should do something about the present pathetic situation of our exports immediately. Probably, meeting with the stakeholders personally (for a start) to motivate them. This is very effective. When I was the DTI undersecretary, I met with the stakeholders and officers of the different industry groups every week to discuss the problems, latest trends and suggested reforms. You should see the confidence exuded by the product specialists then.
Going back to mangosteen, let me share with you some interesting information about the health/healing properties of mangosteen. (References: Internet reports; books and others publications on herbal cures)
Here’s a partial list of the health/healing properties of mangosteen:
•Anti-aging - helps prevent aging;
•Anti-allergenic – helps prevent allergic reactions;
•Anti-arthritic – helps prevent arthritis;
•Anti-atherosclerotic – helps prevent the hardening of the arteries;
•Antibiotic – prevents or modulates bacterial infections;
•Anti-calculitic – helps prevent kidney stones;
•Anti-cataract – helps prevent cataracts;
•Anti-glaucomic – helps prevent glaucoma;
•Anti-lipidemic – helps lower blood fat;
•Anti-neuralgic – helps in nerve pain;
•Anti-osteoporosis – helps prevent the loss of bone mass;
•Anti-Parkinson – helps with Parkinson’s disease;
•Anti-vertigo – helps prevent dizziness;
•Anti-cancer – helps slow down the growth of cancer cells.
The exotic mangosteen fruit has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It contains some of the most potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal compounds in nature.
Other interesting information about mangosteen (References: Internet reports, books, and other publications on herbal cures):
•Do you know that mangosteen fruit which is about the size of a fist with a deep purple leather skin has a taste which is a mixture of lychee fruit, pineapple, peach and strawberry. This fruit is popular not only because of its delicious flavor but more so because of its health benefits;
•Do you know that the completely mature mangosteen fruit measures about 3-7 cm in diameter. Its outer rind is about 7-12 mm thick which contains bitter yellow latex that stains clothes;
•Do you know that mangosteen, a round tropical fruit with a reddish or dark purple color is known as “Mangkhud” in Thai. Thailand is the largest producer and exporter of mangosteen;
•Do you know that mangosteen is known as Mangustan in Hindi, Kaattampi in Malayalam, and Kao in Bengali;
•Do you know that the scientific name of mangosteen is Garcinia Mangostana. This fruit is believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. Today, mangosteen grows mainly in Southeast Asia, Southwest India and other tropical areas;
•Do you know that while mangosteen found its entry in England in 1789, its successful cultivation in England took place only after another fifty (50) years;
•Do you know that before 2007, it was illegal to bring mangosteen into the US. This fruit is now readily available in US supermarts;
•Do you know that mangosteens generally do not have a long shelf life. They can only maintain their freshness, nutritional value and flavor up to a period of two (2) weeks.
Have a joyful day! (For comments/reactions please send to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: villafuerte_nelly@yahoo.com)