China pines for Malaysian pineapples

Fruits of their labour: Ahmad putting a pineapple on an arch after launching MPIB’s 60th Anniversary Pineapple Fiesta at the Pontian Trade Centre, Johor.

PONTIAN: Apart from the Musang King durian craze, Chinese consumers are also craving Malaysia’s fresh pineapples, with demand for the fruits going up drastically.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) aimed to increase production by 20% next year to cope with demand from China.