Japanese Strawberries Make a Sweet Comeback to the Philippine Market

Japanese strawberries, known for their “juicy and sweet” flavor, are making a highly anticipated comeback to the Philippine market.

The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines announced that an agreement has been reached with Philippine quarantine authorities to lift the ban on strawberry imports starting Sunday, Dec. 15. This development follows extensive technical discussions between Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Philippine authorities, driven by requests from Japanese strawberry production regions.

The previous restriction was implemented due to pest concerns, particularly related to fresh strawberries from Japan. To address this, Japan’s agriculture ministry outlined four key quarantine requirements to ensure the safety of the strawberries entering the Philippines. These include the registration of production facilities, pest monitoring—specifically for Drosophila suzukii fruit flies—and rigorous pre-export testing for pesticide residues and microbial contaminants. Philippine authorities will also inspect the shipments to ensure compliance.

Japanese strawberries hold a special place in desserts such as strawberry shortcakes and mochis, and their appeal extends beyond Japan to markets like Hong Kong and Taiwan. With the lifting of the ban, Filipino consumers can once again enjoy these premium fruits that are celebrated for their quality and flavor.

One of the pioneers in Japan’s strawberry export market is the Amaou variety, produced in Fukuoka Prefecture. Since beginning exports in 2013, Amaou strawberries have seen steady growth in demand worldwide. Japan’s agriculture ministry noted that strawberries from other production areas are also gaining traction globally.

“Japanese strawberries produced in areas other than Fukuoka are shipped abroad more and more today. It would be lovely if all the people in the world come to know and enjoy fabulous Japanese strawberries,” MAFF said.

The return of Japanese strawberries to the Philippine market is expected to delight consumers and strengthen trade ties between the two nations.