Jamaica can now export pineapples commercially to Barbados.

This disclosure was made by Sanniel Wilson Graham, Jamaica’s chief plant quarantine/produce inspector.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said the new measure went into effect as from October 29.

As such exporters, farmers and farms producing pineapples for export must be registered with the ministry’s Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch and adhere to the export protocols.

These protocols include phytosanitary requirements as well as post-harvest handling, packaging and certification.

According to Wilson Graham, “this new development is part of Jamaica’s thrust to expand exports to improve the country’s earnings from the agricultural sector and follows new market access opportunities in the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom”.

The Agriculture Ministry explains that exporters must obtain an import permit from the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Barbados before exporting the fruit.

Wilson Graham observed that there has been an increase in the number of commodities exported to The Cayman Islands, adding that there has also been an expansion of the approved farmers allowed to export bananas to the British Overseas Territory.

Jamaica also resumed export of mangoes to the United States and the UK in February 2019 and April 2021 respectively.