Banyuwangi, a district in East Java, stands out as a horticultural production hub, particularly renowned for its dragon fruit and mangosteen exports to China. Following the success of these fruits in foreign markets, frozen durians from Banyuwangi have now captured the interest of the Thai market. The maiden export of 14 tons of frozen durians from Banyuwangi was dispatched directly to Thailand via the Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya on March 1, 2024. Purwadi, an official from the East Java Quarantine Office, stated that thorough inspections were conducted to ensure the frozen durians from the Songgon District owned by PT. RDT were free from pests and diseases. This included administrative checks for document completeness and physical examinations.
Phytosanitary Certificates were issued following these inspections before the durians were shipped to their destination country. Muhlis Natsir, Head of the East Java Quarantine Office, commended the young exporters for capitalizing on local opportunities to generate foreign exchange. He emphasized the office's commitment to supporting agricultural exports from East Java, including frozen durians, due to their excellent quality and popularity among both domestic and international durian enthusiasts. Muhlis expressed hope that the successful export of 14 tons of frozen durians to Thailand would pave the way for future exports, highlighting the delicious taste of Banyuwangi durians as a testament to their quality.