FAMA To Export Frozen Durians With Longer Shelf Life

Tag : Durians

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Federal AgricultureMarketing Authority (FAMA) will soon export durians in fresh frozenform to Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia by using technologywhich can help retain their flavour and colour for up to two tothree years, its Director-General, Datuk Mohamed Shariff AbdulAziz, said Tuesday.

FAMA and the Malaysian Agricultural Research Institute (Mardi) haddeveloped technology which can help lengthen the shelf life ofdurians.

Speaking at a durian party organised by FAMA and the Ministry ofAgriculture and Agro-based Industry at Parliament House here,Mohamed Shariff said FAMA expected the farm price of local fruitsto be good this year amidst forecasts of a lower harvest because ofpoor weather.

"FAMA has set up 137 buying centres in 12 major cities to helpmarket the seasonal fruits," he added.

Mohamed Shariff said this was the fourth time that FAMA was holdingthe durian party at Parliament House to promote local fruits.

The durian species at Tuesday's party included T24, T10, 101, D2,Tanjung Sepat, Musang King, Kampung, Hijau Kulit, Kunyit, D24, D13and D18.

"Besides five tonnes of durian, we also brought two tonnes ofmangosteen, cempedak and rambutan," said Mohamed Shariff.

FAMA has also forecast that the price of cempedak to be betweenRM3.20 and RM3.60 a kg this year, RM8 to RM9.40 a kg for D24durians, RM4-RM4.90 a kg for kampung durians, RM3.30 to RM3.60 a kgfor mangosteens and RM2.80 to RM3.60 a kg for rambutans.

-- BERNAMA
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