The International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) led a study visit to the Philippines from 26 to 30 April 2026, bringing together the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) and Malaysian industry players with the aim to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between both countries’ pineapple sectors.
The MPIB delegation was led by Chairman Mr. Sheikh Umar Bagharib and was supported by Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino and Consul General Mr. Deddy Faisal Ahmad Salleh with Mr. Muhamed Salim Mohd Ali leading TFNet.
After visiting Dole Philippines, the delegation also went to local pineapple companies in South Cotabato on April 26 to experience how medium sized enterprises conduct their business.
They were welcomed by GS Fruits Farm located in T’boli and SunFarms Agriventures Corporation in Tampakan. GS Fruits and SunFarms grow 180 ha and 220 ha of pineapple respectively.
Both farms do not export fruits on their own but are supplying 3-5 containers of pineapple per week to exporters such Sumifru Philippines Corporation and Dole Philippines.
The Malaysian delegates were able to visit their farms and GS Fruit’s packing facilities. They noted that the local companies have similar packinghouse technologies in Malaysia, except that fruits are loaded into boxes on site.
Other sites that the delegates visited included Dole Philippines and Asiatext. The study visit wouldn’t have been possible without the support and facilitation of the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Plant Quarantine Office in General Santos.
