BRIEFS: Agriculture

Farmers report jump in fruit orders

After a weak year for fruit farmers, next year is shaping up to be much more profitable.

The Gremial de Agroexportadores no Tradicionales de Panamá (Gantrap) reported that contracts for next season, which begins in November and ends in April 2009, has doubled as compared to this year.

Several large companies representing importers from both the U.S. and Europe are currently in Panama looking to secure contracts for crops such as watermelon, squash, papayas, pineapples, yucca, plantain and yams.

Gantrap Director Francisco Antúnez said that local producers are not worried about meeting the increase in demand.

Despite the weather problems that affected the current season, the farmers reported exporting a total of 8,000 containers of fruits valued at $100 million.