A Study on the Production Methods of

Conventionally-grown Pineapples in the

Philippines

Polomolok, South Cotabato, Philippines

February 2015

Magsasaka at Siyetipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura

1
 A Study on the Production Methods of Conventionally-grown
Pineapples in the Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION

Pineapple is one of the most important crops in the Philippines. The country ranks second in
the world, next to Costa Rica in terms of pineapple production with an estimated 70,000
hectares planted with the crop, which are mainly exported, contributing about 17% to the
world supply (Baroña, 2005). Majority of the production is concentrated in Mindanao, with
other provinces in Luzon close behind. However, 85% of the production is controlled by giant
transnational corporations, led by Del Monte and Dole Philippines (Dolefil).

Fresh pineapples are mostly exported to Japan (taking up about 79%) and Korea (15%). The
main markets for processed pineapple products are the US (68-75%), followed by Japan (8%),
Canada (4%), while the Netherlands and Korea takes up about 3% (Digal, 2007).

Pineapple production uses extensive chemical inputs as plantation corporations want to ensure
high yields and export-level quality of the fruits. The use of agricultural chemical inputs, which
includes pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and others are prevalent in the Philippines. Of the
total agricultural chemical consumption (including pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and others),
plantation crops (pineapples and bananas) consume about 27%, next only to rice, which is the
staple crop of the country. (Dhang, 2012).

While there is national law promoting organic agriculture in the Philippines, the production for
organic pineapple is sluggishly picking up. This is the same for other vegetables and fruits,
particularly the high value or cash crops, as a municipal agriculture officer in one of the leading
pineapple producing towns lamented. Farmers who have not yet been enlightened on the
health and environmental impacts of organic agriculture have been afraid to venture into the
chemical-free farming, as they fear for decrease in production and income. Government
support also tips the scale towards chemical farming (despite the organic agriculture law).
However, there are small-scale farmers who are planting pineapples in small plots of land that
are for home or community consumption. Some medium-scale organic producers and
cooperatives, particularly in Mindanao, have managed to export fresh pineapples to Japan and
Korea. These farmers do not apply chemical pesticides and herbicides but manage the
pineapple production through organic methods.

The increasing global awareness on the hazards of chemical inputs on both fresh and processed
products, along with the burgeoning demand for organic and fair trade products have led many

2
consumers groups to closely examine the manner of production of important food products
such as fruits and vegetables. This study, therefore aims to look closely into the pineapples
produced in the Philippines, particularly that of Dolefil and Dole Company, in the hope that
consumers are further informed of the process that the pineapple goods in their local market
have gone through.

Methodology

The methodologies used in the study were a combination of primary and secondary data-
gathering. Primary data-gathering was made through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key
informant interviews with 17 respondents, both men and women, who are former regular and
casual workers, current regular and casual workers, and a contract grower.

The secondary data-gathering was made through desk research with materials including
reports, journals and articles. An ocular inspection was likewise conducted at the cannery’s
waste basin and plantation.

Scope and Limitations

There is a limitation on the availability of information on Dolefil’s chemicals usage. Workers

and key informants were afraid that providing information might cost them their work. These
fears are not without basis since there have been cases of work termination in the past,
including workers who merely facilitated or helped foreign researchers.

No medical practitioner from the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital (owned by Dole
Philippines) was willing to be interviewed. A request for interview was denied. Likewise,
previous queries from other independent organizations were reportedly turned down by the
hospital management due to company policy of “confidentiality.” Obviously, practitioners and
employees of the hospital are restricted from disclosing any information about medical cases,
but they also equally fear a company backlash, including possible termination of service.

In the Philippines, there are no organic pineapples planted in large-scale. There are isolated
family or subsistence organic pineapple production but for local market without the benefit of
organic certification and prime price associated with organic. But even small scale farms
geared for the market make use of chemical inputs for assured ‘quality’. For instance, chemical
flower inducers are used to achieve synchronized maturity of fruits.

The currency used in discussing costs of production is in Philippine Pesos. The conversion rate
of pesos to dollar to be used in this report is Php 44.50 (or Php 6.34 against SEK).

These limitations call for further research to further substantiate the findings of this study.

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II. DOLE PHILIPPINES

Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil), a subsidiary of Dole Company, Inc., has been acquired by Itochu
Corp. of Japan when it bought Dole’s Worldwide Packaged Foods and Asia Fresh businesses in
2013. The company produces approximately 500,000 tons of pineapples every year, 15% of
which are exported to Japan, with the remaining processed into various products amounting to
almost 15 million boxes. Majority of the processed goods are exported (75% goes to the US
market), while about 2% goes to the local market (Teruel, 2006).

In April 2014, Dolefil declared a total area of 16,571 hectares (ha) (both base plantation and
contract growers) in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani. The company maintains a
total of 9,363.56 ha (23,128 acres) of pineapple plantation in the towns of Polomolok and Tupi
in South Cotabato, Soccsksargen region, Philippines.

Base plantations are the farms owned by the company while contract growers are farmers with
one to three hectares of land planted with pineapple. These contract growers are given
financial, technical, and market support. The company currently has 1,600 growers. Dolefil’s
contract with growers is renewable every three years or after two harvest seasons (from the
plant crop to the ratoon crop). The company requires farmers to present documents like land
titles and real property tax, among others to qualify as contract grower. They are also made to
sign a contract that strictly prohibits the growers to sell their produce to other companies or
entities. Should this agreement be violated, the company reserves the right to terminate the
contract and ban the growers.

Aside from its base plantations and contract growers, Dolefil also manages farm lots which the
company rents from private individuals. EILER (2008) claims that about 200 hectares are self-
financed by individual growers. Land rent is Php 32,000 per cropping cycle lasting 18 months.
In more remote areas inhabited by indigenous people, the company is offering a measly Php
7,000 to Php 12,000 per ha per year.

Dolefil has five mixing stations where fertilizers and agrochemicals are mixed before being
transported into the field for spraying or application and five mobile packing plants. The
company also has a can manufacturing plant that produces two million cans per day, as well as
corrugated box plant for its carton boxes (Cayon, 2014).

Dolefil’s cannery plants have 24 preparation lines with a capacity of 110 tons per hour, and
produce an average of 85,000 standard cases of canned pineapples. Its processed pineapples
consist of slices, chunks, tidbits, crushed and juice concentrates (Cayon, 2014). Dolefil also has a
packing plant (named Station 1) for the export of fresh fruits.

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Workforce and Labor Issues

Dolefil employs 4,600 regular employees, with salaries ranging from Php 252 (minimum wage)
to more than Php700 per day (or eight hours) depending on their length of service
(Anonymous, 2014). The rest of its workforce of at least 9,800 are casuals who perform
seasonal farm activities of planting, field maintenance, and harvesting. These are also called
service providers organized under six different cooperatives. There are two types of
cooperative workers, the regulars and relievers. The regulars are given priority to work, while
relievers only get the chance to work if a regular is absent. These workers assemble daily in the
office for a chance to work.

Casuals do not have a fixed income as their work is either on a flat rate basis or per piece
system (per ton, per box, or per acre). Even if the minimum wage set by the government for
that region is Php 252 for agricultural plantation workers, harvesters are paid as low as Php 19
to Php 270 per day. Planters are paid Php 240 per day. Hand weeders are paid as low as Php
35 to Php 135 per day. Workers in the plantation are reported to have suffered from bad
working conditions, lack of benefits, lack of job security and violation of labor rights such as
forming and joining a union (EILER, 2008).

Dolefil has figured in several controversies in the past with its treatment of workers and alleged
violations of labor rights. In fact, Dolefil has been shortlisted for the Public Eye Global Award in
2008 due to its supposed labor violations and environmental impacts. An environmental
investigative mission conducted in 2011 found that the plantation “greatly affected the
watershed” in Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato, and caused flashfloods in the nearby towns. As
cited by Balsa Mindanao in 2012,

“Dolefil's plantation contouring and diverting natural waterways caused land

scouring that caused the loss of about 380,000 cubic meters of soil or close to
2.53 million hectares furrow slice. The hydrology of the region was also
extensively altered with the deposition of the drainage lines and spring waters
and artificial dissection of landscape because of gullying…. Water from the
plantations was diverted to the trail resulting to land wasting and erosions
which also ate up sizeable portions of the farms.” The expansion of
monocultured pineapple plantation by Dolefil was said to be the cause of about
65% of flashfloods and erosions in the area.”

Workers are also greatly exposed to hazardous chemicals which have led to “reported cases of
skin diseases, stomach ailments, and illnesses related to the reproductive system especially for
female workers” (Teruel, 2005). Jose Teruel, president of the labor union in Dolefil, have also
claimed that:

“Medical records from the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital owned by Dole
Philippines in Polomolok, South Cotabato showed that last year, the top 10

5
 chronic illnesses of workers in the Dole Philippines were hypertension, bronchial
asthma, diabetes mellitus, gouty arthritis, hypercholesterolemia,
hyperthyroidism, other cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis,
osteoarthritis and menopause.

Another common illness is kidney problem. I, for one, have undergone

operation few years back due to kidney problem.”

This may be due to the inconsistent implementation and provision of safety gears and
equipments. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, mouth cloth, boots, apron
and hairnets should be provided every month, but instead these are only given once a year.
Workers had to procure their own gear, or rely on old or used gears.

A recent video documentary produced by Fairfood International shows that the grave
conditions of the workers in pineapple plantations persists. While the video did not identify the
company the workers are working for, laborers who were interviewed claim that they suffer
severe headaches, blocked throats, blurry vision, itchy skin. Furthermore, some of the workers
claimed that the plantations are still using Endosulfan which has already been banned in many
countries. However in 2008, it was reported that Dole and Del Monte have committed to end
the use of the deadly chemical, as they are the only two companies allowed to use Endosulfan
in the country (Unknown, 2008).

Pineapple varieties
Dolefil currently grows in its base plantation two varieties of pineapple: the MG3 which is
planted in a total of 16,481 acres (6,672.47 ha), and the F200 which is planted in a total of 6,647
acres (2,691.09 ha) in Polomolok and Tupi, South Cotabato.

The MG3 is Dolefil’s main product for the export of fresh fruits. It is sweet and its “eyes” are
big. Its color is pure green and when ripe, its color turns dark yellow. The MG3 is said to have
50 percent acidity*. Its size ranges from four (jumbo) to 10 (smallest). Size four means only
four fruits can be placed inside a standard box. On the other hand, size 10 means 10 fruits can
be placed inside a standard box. Base plantations grow this variety.

The F200 variety has higher yield and it is grown for processed fruits. It is a bit sour and its
“eyes” are small. Its color, including its leaves and crown, is a mixture of green and brown.
When ripe, it turns light yellow in color. It is said to have 70 percent acidity. Managed/leased
farms and contract growers grow this variety.

Dolefil is growing another variety, the Dole14 variety, in some 60 hectares land, but still in its
testing stage.

* - percent acidity is proxy measurement of sweetness: lower acidity means sweeter.

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III. PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Process Flow

The production stages are as follows:

Land Preparation Planting Maintenance Harvesting Processing Marketing

Planting Material

Dolefil currently grows two varieties of pineapple for the market: the MG3 is grown and
exported as fresh fruits, while the F200 is mainly for processed products. A third variety, the
Dole14 variety meanwhile is being tested in some 60 hectares of land.

Pineapples are propagated through asexual vegetative methods from crowns or suckers
(axilliary shoots from the base of the plants) of the old, harvested fruits. According to Bethge,
ratooned fruits over time become smaller and less resistant. To address this, crowns are sorted
according to sizes (Table 1). Mark Rieger of fruit-crops.com asserts that “the size of the
planting material affects production; larger crowns/suckers give the highest yield and reduce
time from planting to harvest.” Hence, crowns that weigh less than 100 grams are discarded.

Table 1: Crown size specification of two varieties of pineapple planted by Dole Philippines.

MG3 Size Weight F200 Size Weight

(in grams) (in grams)
Small 100-200 Small 150-200
Big +201 Medium +200-250
Large +250

For the F200, the first ratoon fields are entered with one round of sucker pruning and properly
harvested to keep the healthy status of the planting materials and mother plants. Harvested
suckers are hauled to the dipping station for fungicide (Aliette) treatment before planting it in
the field.

For the MG3, suckers and slips are harvested prior to degreening. Sucker harvesting rounds
and timing schedule is strictly followed. Only suckers with a length of eight to 12 inches are
good for harvesting. Those over 12 inches are chopped using bolos. Suckers are sorted then
hauled into trucks and transported to the dipping station for fungicide treatment.

7
From the dipping station, fungicide-treated crowns are hauled in plant haul trucks for delivery
in the designated field for planting.

When crowns are available for retrieval from the newly harvested field (or packing plant and
mobile packing plant in the case of MG3), only the healthy crowns or those free from butt rot
or mechanical damage are collected. These crowns are treated with Aliette (fungicide). They
are collected and hauled within four hours after sorting, and unloaded into piles in the planting
field. Within eight hours after dumping, the materials are spread out of the piles to avoid rot
infection.

Meanwhile, suckers are harvested, chopped and separated into specified sizes (Table 2) before
hauling.

Table2: Sucker/Slips specifications of pineapple varieties (both MG3 and F200)

planted by Dole Philippines.

Size Weight
(in grams)
S1 150-250
S2 251-350
S3 351-450
S4 +451

When the suckers are left in the field, they are applied with fungicide in-field and arranged
butt-up properly. They are later loaded into trucks by sizes for field distribution and planting.

Stage1: Land Preparation

For the contract grower’s farm, land preparation takes about eight weeks (see Annex 3). The
same goes with the managed farms. The area is first plowed at about one-meter deep (deep
plough) using a Mouldboard tractor to loosen the soil. After six weeks and three days, it
undergoes a first round of Harrow plowing. After two weeks, the second round of Harrow
plowing is done. This is the last preparation before planting.

Mouldboard plowing is pegged at Php 4,500 per hectare while Harrow plowing is pegged at Php
1,500 per hectare. Since harrowing is done twice, the total land preparation cost is Php 7,500
per hectare.

For the base plantations, excess plants and weeds are first chopped off using a bulldozer or
chopping truck. After four t eoight weeks, the area undergoes the same process as that of the
managed and grower’s farms, except that calcite and magnetite are applied to neutralize the
soil acidity. Bed preparation through heavy equipment is also implemented.

8
Chopping cost is estimated at Php 16,000 per hectare.

Stage2: Planting

Planters are provided with a planting rod and a basket for spreading the materials. Rows and
spacing are measured and established by the planters using a string guide provided by the
Dolefil’s Plant Department. Each planter lays the nylon cord with beads attached at pre-
determined intervals along the length of the block. The usual interval is 10 inches between
plants (see Image 1: Interval, top view and Image 2: Interval, side view) and 16 inches between
beds. The 16-inch distance is intended as passageway for manual weeders, side-feeding
(manual application of fertilizers) and harvesters.

Above: Side view, 10-inch planting intervals

Left: Top view, 10-inch planting intervals

Only the base plantations implement the two-row bed forms for the planting of MG3.
Managed/leased farms and growers who grow F200 do not practice the two-row bed forms as
the materials are directly planted on flat grounds and in single rows.

All piles of planting material in the field are spread across the block within eight hours after
dumping to avoid butt rot. They are spread from the center of the block to the side row bed to
ensure that no gaps will occur in the inner part of the blocks to be planted.

9
Planters are assigned with one cut at a time. Materials are planted in a quincunx arrangement
and in a minimum depth of three to five inches in upright position. A quincunx is an
arrangement of five points in a square or rectangle with one at each corner and one in the
middle. The depth of planting is ensured for proper rooting. No gaps must be left unplanted.

Excess planting materials are removed from the blocks and piled in the roadside for the
immediate collection and redistribution. Meanwhile, damaged and unhealthy planting
materials are removed from the planted area to the disposal site.

The cooperative service provider requires 25 persons per gang for planting. Under the quota
system, the labor is pegged at Php 4,000 to plant one hectare.1 About 30,000 materials are
planted in a one-hectare farm.

Stage 3: Crop Maintenance

Crop maintenance involves manual and chemical weeding, insecticide application, fertilizer
application, and forcing/ripening induction (ripening agent).

Hand/Manual Weeding

In the contract growing farms, seven hand weeding operation with a total of 130 man-days
were conducted during the entire cropping cycle (Table 3). A man-day consists of eight hours.
There is more hand weeding under contract growing scheme because this is cheaper than the
use of herbicides. In contrast, Dolefil base plantation and managed/leased farms practice
more chemical weed control because due to ease of application, thus they practice less manual
weeding.

Workers must uproot (not slash or cut) the weeds from the soil, then carry it outside the blocks
and pile in the block roads. Piling the weeds on top of the growing pineapple is strictly
prohibited. It is insured that no weeds are left after the operation to ensure the quality and
zero regrowth of the weeds.

1
Casuals do not have a fixed income as their work is either on a flat rate basis or per piece system (per ton, per
box, or per acre). This means that the 25 workers in the gang should be able to plant all 30,000 planting materials
in a hectare before they can earn the Php 4000 (Php 160 each worker). This is true for all the planting stages
(weeding, harvesting, packaging, etc.) The EILER 2008 report (A Harvest of Broken Promises) details all the labor
abuses that Dole commits, including its dire impacts on women and child labor.

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Table 3: Hand weeding operations in pineapple under contract growing.*
Round Operation Age of plant Cost Cost
(in weeks) (Php) (USD)2
First 11 weeks after 11 675.00 15.17
planting the materials
Second 6 weeks and 1 day 17 2,835.00 63.70
from first operation
Third 13 weeks and 2 days 30 2,700.00 60.67
from second
operation
Fourth 12 weeks from third 42 3,645.00 81.91
operation
Fifth 8 weeks and 2 days 50 3,105.00 69.77
from fourth operation
Sixth 5 weeks and 3 days 55 1,755.00 39.43
from fifth operation
Seventh 16 weeks and 2 days 71 2,835.00 63.70
from sixth operation
TOTAL 17,550.00 394.35
*Based on the actual record of a grower, from land preparation to harvesting (20 months), per hectare.

Hand weeding is usually done once every 28 days (one period) and before any herbicide
application which removes large and towering weeds. No weeding is done 56 days before
harvest to avoid damage to the fruits.

The labor for hand weeding in the Cooperative is pegged at Php 135 per person/ day. But
under the quota system, hand weeding is pegged at Php 800 per weeding time/ hectare. With a
normal gang of 25 persons to do the job, this is translated into PhP 32/ pax/day under the
quota system. All of these are way below the PhP 252 minimum wage specified by law.

Chemical Weeding

Hand weeding is complemented by chemical weeding three times under contract growing
scheme. Hyvar, Karmex, and Ametryn are the herbicides commonly used in the pineapple
plantations (Table 4). The toxicity and environmental effects of pesticides used in growing
pineapple in Dolefil in the Philippines is presented in Appendix table 1.

The correct mixture for herbicide (and pesticide) is ensured before loading it to the spraying
tanks or containers for application to the designated area. Chemical sprayers must cover all
blocks, walking through interspaces to kill any weeds. Lancers and nozzles are to be used
correctly, avoiding the growing plants when spraying on the weeds.

2
As of writing, conversion rate is 1 USD= 44.50 PHP

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Table 4: Herbicide and insecticide application in pineapple under contract growing *

Herbicide/ Amount Operation Age of Cost Cost

Insecticide plant (Php) (USD)
(in
weeks)
Hyvar + 11.35 kg 1 week and 2 1 Php 4,866.17 109.35
+ days from
Diazinon 1.75 liters planting
(first round)
Ametryn 10.62 kg 15 weeks from 16 1,623.32 36.47
(second round) first round
Karmex 10.62 kg 8 weeks and 3 24 1,623.05 36.47
(third round) days after the
second round
TOTAL Php 8,112.54 182.29
*Based on the actual record of a typical grower, from land preparation to harvesting (20 months), per hectare.

Herbicide application is more prevalent in the Dolefil base and managed farms because they
have budget allocated to the operation. As a rule, herbicide spraying is done every month
when weeds are growing fast (i.e. rainy season) or every two months when weeds are growing
slow (dry season) (Table 5). In total, there can be nine to 12 times of herbicide application in
one cropping cycle.

Table 5: Chemical weeding under Managed farms*

Herbicide/Insecticide Amount Operation

(per hectare)
Hyvar + 10 kg + 3 days before planting
Diazinon 3.6 li
Diazinon 3.6 li 3 month after planting
Hyvar 10 kg Every month during
rainy season; every 2
months during dry
season until spraying of
forcing agent
*As shared by a chemical handler; source claims that data from managed farms are generally
the same as that of the base plantations.

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Water Management/Waste Management

The plantation in Polomolok and Tupi, South Cotabato is rainfed. However, rainfall is evenly
distributed throughout the year, thus, irrigation system is not needed.

Water wastes from the cannery go to its waste basin, which exits through a ditch (see Image 2)
directly to the waterways (see Image 3). The waste basin is located at the back of the cannery,
close to the residential area.

Image 1. The waste water basin at the back of the cannery.

Image 2. Water from the basin flows through the ditch.

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 Image 3. Waste water from the ditch drains into a canal which is public waterways.

Chemical wastes from the mixing stations are collected in a spill pond. These are then sucked
directly to tanks which are then loaded to the supply truck and disposed to the knockdown
areas where the ratoon crops have just been harvested and are under preparation for the next
plant crop.

Soil Fertility Management

Chemical fertilizer is applied eight times in contract growing farms with a total of two tons per
hectare per cropping cycle of 20 months (Table 6). Urea and magnesium sulfate are the
common fertilizer applied.

The rate of fertilizer application is double the amount in company managed/base farms,
totaling fourteen application times with a total of four tons for the entire cropping cycle (Table
7).

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Table 6: Fertilizer Application in Pineapple Under Contract Growing.*
Fertilizer Stage Number of Age of Amount per Total Fertilizer
application plant (in Application Applied (kg)
weeks) (kg/ha)
[Mixture: Urea Growing 2 6, 10 177.3 354.6
(45-0-0) and
Magnesium
sulfate
(9.1%Mg; 14%
S04)
-do- 3 17, 25, 33 354.61 1,063.83
-do- 2 39, 49 265.96 531.92
Urea (45-0-0) Fruiting 1 58 53.19 53.19
(Forcing)
Total 2,003.54
*Based on the actual record of a grower, from land preparation to harvesting (20 months), per hectare.

Table 7: Fertilizer application under managed farms / base plantation within 18 months.*
Fertilizer Stage Number of Age of Amount per Total Fertilizer
application plant (in Application Applied (kg)
weeks) (kg/ha)
Urea (45-0-0) Growing 11 (3 days), 337.50 3,712.50
16, 20,
24, 28,
32, 36,
40, 44,
48, 52
Magnesium -do- 11 -do- 25 275
Sulfate (9.1%Mg;
14% S04)
Urea Fruiting 1 56 1 (1st round) 1.5
(Forcing)
1 56 0.5 (2nd round)

(2) (56) 1.5 in low

elevation
3 days before 1 72 1 1
harvesting
Total 4,001
*As shared by a chemical handler

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Pest and Disease Management

Diazinon is sprayed once or twice during the early stage of the pineapple plants mainly to
prevent mealybug (Pseudococcus brevipes and P. neobrevipes) infestation (Table 8). So far, in
the Philippines, no serious insect pest attacks pineapple.

Table 8: Types of Pest and Method of Prevention

Pest Conventional Method
Ants Diazinon
Aphids No data
Black bug -do-
Larvae Diazinon
Fruit flies No data
Mealy bug Diazinon
Rodents -do-
Termites -do-

The most common disease of pineapple in the Philippines is butt rot (caused by Pectobacterium
chrysanthemi) and this is controlled in the Dolefil plantation by dipping the planting materials in
Aliette solution, a systemic fungicide (Table 9).

Table 9: Types of Disease and Method of Prevention

Disease Conventional Method
Butt rot Before planting, materials (suckers
and crowns) are dipped into a
fungicide (Aliette, systemic) solution
Heart rot/Pink disease No data
Rot -do-

Stage 4: Harvest

Ripening agents are applied to ensure good quality production (Table 10 and 11). To determine
the maturity of the pineapples, Dolefil sends technicians or quality analysts to check the quality
of the samples gathered in between forcing and harvesting. They are the ones who advise when
the fruits are ready for harvesting. According to the Pineapple Production Guide, pineapples
are declared ready for harvesting “when the eye shows a light pale green color.” The Bureau of
Agricultural Research lists a description of the various stages of pineapples’ maturity which
simply points to the green and yellow colors of the fruit.

16
Table 10: Ripening agent applied under Contract Growing.*
Chemical Age of plant Amount
(in weeks) (liters/ha.)
Ethrel (forcing) 58 4.25 liters

*Based on the actual record of grower, per hectare.

Table 11: Ripening agent applied under managed farms / base plantations.*
Chemical Age of plant Amount (liters/ha.)
(in weeks)
Ethrel: 1. Forcing, 1st round 56 4.2
2. Forcing, 2nd round, 3 days 3.6
after first round
(at low elevation, same (6)
amount for two rounds)
3. three days before harvesting 72 4.2
Gibberellic Acid 64 996 grams
*As shared by a chemical handler

Gibberellic Acid is used only in base plantations and managed farms. It costs Php 12,000 per
kilo which would cover a hectare of land. To minimize cost, contract growers opt not to apply
this on their farms.

Different harvesting operations are used for different product types: fresh fruits for the packing
plant (Station 1), fresh fruits for the Mobile Packing Plants, processed fruits for the cannery,
and processed fruits for the IQF (frozen/dried fruits).

The methods of harvesting are either manual (hand-pick or hand-load method) or mechanized
(using the boom harvesters). For the handpick method, 18 harvesters per gang are required.3
Under the handpick method for canned fruits, harvesters gather the fruits first before the
hauling truck is advised to pick up the produce. This is to insure lesser transportation cost. For
the mechanized harvesting of fresh fruits and canned fruits, 18 and 15 people are required,
respectively.

Fresh fruits, on the other hand, are directly loaded to the hauling trucks.

When using the boom trucks, harvesters place the fruits in the conveyor belt which collects the
produce directly to the truck.

3
Depends on the target volume. In one of the interviews, an eight-hour work by a gang of harvesters would yield
20 trucks with a capacity of 4 tons each of pineapples.

17
As a matter of policy, harvesters should have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including
charcoal and rubberized gloves, long-sleeve clothing, hat for sun protection, raincoat, and
proper shoes. As mentioned above, however, this safety practice is not often implemented.

Post-harvest handling

After the plant crop has been harvested, the application of fertilizer and pesticides continue for
the ratoon crop. After the ratoon crops have been harvested, the area is knocked down, in
preparation for another plant crop or new cropping period.

Stage 5: Processing

After harvesting, fruits are either sent to the mobile packing plant or Station 1 for packing as
fresh fruits or delivered to the cannery for processing.

At the Mobile Packing Plant

Fruits are loaded and washed into the flotation tub or dipping pool (Table 12) to determine the
floaters and sinkers. Fruits that float are ripe, while those that sink are considered not fully ripe
and are for canning only. Floaters are loaded into the conveyor belt for packing. Meanwhile,
sinkers are collected for canning. Some fruits are de-crowned after washing, depending on the
order.

Table 12: For the flotation tub, rinsing and polishing*

Element Amount Reason
(Dissolved in 2,400 liters
of H20)
Alum 1 kg To determine the sinkers
and floaters
Chlorine 0.4 kg -do-
Calcium Chloride 20 kg -do-
Fruit wax 20 liters For polishing
*as shared by a chemical handler

Every 30 minutes, a chemical tender checks the concentration (parts per million) and pH of the
mixture.

Fruits are loaded into the conveyor belt for rinsing, waxing and blow drying before they are
loaded into the boxes. The boxes are assembled in a standby container van which also served as
a cold room. These are then transferred (by palette) to the container vans for shipment.

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Packing Plant

From the harvesting area, the fruits are delivered into the Station 1 packing plant. The fruits
are loaded into the bin. These are then transferred to the flotation tub (Table 13) to sort which
are packable and not. Sinkers (or rejects) are collected for delivery to the cannery. Floaters are
sorted and loaded into the product conveyor where they undergo rinsing, blow drying,
polishing and another blow drying. At the end of the conveyor, workers arrange the fruits,
according to sizes and shell color, in the packing table. Each export market has specific shell
color demands.

The holding time of fruits from harvesting is only four hours. This means that within four hours,
fresh fruits should already be packed into boxes. After loading into the box, the holding time is
another four hours and fruits should be stored in the rapid cooler for shipment.

Table 13: Chemical composition of the flotation, rinsing and polishing tub.*
Element Amount Quality Control Reason

Alum 10g >Maintain at 5ppm, To determine the sinkers

Chlorine 1500mL 6.0-6.5 pH (morning) and floaters
> Maintain at
30ppm, 6.0-6.5 pH
(afternoon)
Chlorine 80g
Chlorine ½ bin / 3G (third Maintain at Rinsing
generation facility) 50ppm, 6.0-6.5 pH For Anti-molds
(afternoon)
Fruit wax > For MG3: For polishing,
200 li wax: 400 li water Maintain at longer shelf life
3.0-4.0 BRIX
> For F200:
Maintain at
6.0-7.0 BRIX

Canning
The skin and core of the fruits are removed via the Ginaca machine.

The first end-cut (crown-end and butt-end) are collected and the juice is squeezed out which
would be canned and marketed as concentrate (Table 14). The pulp and skin are collected and
sold to Monterey farms for cow feeds. Meanwhile, cores are collected and squeezed out. Its
juice would be canned and marketed as CPAJ (clarified pineapple juice).

19
After passing through the Ginaca machine, workers (or trimmers) trim the “eyes” that were not
fully removed. Fruits that are for Japan market are blanched / heat-treated before canning.
Various parts of the pineapple fruit are processed into different products such as pineapple
chunks, tidbits, sliced and crushed pineapples and even as part of instant fruit cocktail mix.

Table 14: Pineapple parts and Products

Part Product
First end cut (butt and crown) concentrate
Pulp and skin Cow feeds
Core CPAJ (clarified pineapple juice)
Blemished Trimmed for chunks
Second end cut Crushed
Table end Tidbits

Stage 6: Marketing

Dole Philippines produces more than 25 million cases of processed pineapples, consisting of
slices, chunks, tidbits, crushed and juice concentrate, as well as 13 million boxes of fresh
pineapples annually. Ninety five percent of Dole pineapples goes to North America, Europe,
Middle East, Asia, and Australia (Table 15).

Fresh pineapples are also exported to South Korea, Japan, Middle East, and New Zealand,
mainly consisting of the MG3 variety (Table 15). Meanwhile, the F200 variety is mainly used for
processed canned pineapple products (solids, mixed fruits, beverages), but fresh fruits are also
exported to China.

Table 15: Market for Fresh Pineapples (Cayon, 2014).

Country Variety
China (Guangzhou, F200
Xiamen, Xinjiang)
Japan MG3
Middle East (Jeddah, -do-
Qatar, Dubai, Bahrain,
Lebanon, Iran)
New Zealand -do-
Russia -do-
Singapore -do-
South Korea -do-

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IV. COST AND RETURNS

The costs and returns of producing pineapple in the Philippines under contract growing is
presented in Table 16 (see attachment). The price of the pineapple product is at farmgate
price.

The total cost of production amounted to Php 124,777 per hectare with a net income of Php
84,530. Chemical fertilizer eats up 42 percent of the total expenditure of pineapple growing.
Harvesting share in the cost of production is 18.2 percent, handweeding is 14 percent, and
other labor (spraying, fertilizer application) is 13.2 percent. The cost of herbicide and insecticide
is 6.5 percent while land preparation is 6 percent.

The net income of PhP 84,530 per ha in pineapple contract growing over the growing period of
20 months can be translated into an income of PhP 4,226/month (US$ 95.00/month). It is
obvious that small scale farmers (1-2 ha landholding) would have insufficient income in
conventional pineapple production to support the family.

Table 16. Cost and returns of producing one hectare of pineapple under
contract growing in the Philippines.
Period: One cropping season (19-20 months)
Variety: F200

Date Particulars Cost (PhP) Cost (USD)

14-Apr-2012 Mouldboard plowing @ P4,500/ha 4,500.00 101.12

29-May-2012 Harrow plowing @ P1,500/ha 1,500.00 33.71

13-Jun-2012 Unloading of planting materials 354.60 7.97

14-Jun-2012 Harrow @ P1,500/ha 1,500.00 33.71

17-Jun-2012 Labor for Planting 4,149.00 93.24

26-Jun-2012 11.35 kg Hyvar + 1.75 Liters Diazinon
in 2200 liters of water 4,866.17 109.35

Labor for spraying 1,815.60 40.80

115.09
30-Jul-2012 175 kg fertilizer (1st application) 5,121.42

Labor for fertilizer application @ P300/ha 300.00 6.74

31-Aug-2012 175 kg fertilizer (2nd application) 5,083.44 114.23

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 Labor for fertilizer application @ P300/ha 300.00 6.74
3-Sep-2012 Hand weeding @ P135/head/day 675.00 15.17
16-Oct-2012 Hand weeding @ P135/head/day 2,835.00 63.71
10-Oct-2012 Ametryn (10.6 kg) 1,623.31 36.48
Labor for spraying (2000 liters @ P170/200
liters) 1,700.00 38.20
350 kg fertilizer 3rd and 4th application) 8,846.81 198.80
Labor for fertilizer application @ P300/ha 600.00 13.48
8-Dec-2012 350 kg fertilizer 5th and 6th application) 8,731.80 196.22
Loading fertilizer 70.92 1.59
Labor for fertilizer application @ P300/ha 600.00 13.48
Karmex (10.6 kg) 1,623.05 36.47
Labor for spraying (2000 liters @ P170/200 38.20
liters) 1,700.00
18-Jan-2013 Hand weeding @ P135/head/day 2,700.00 60.67
7-Feb-2013 275 kg fertilizer (7th and 8th appication) 6,699.57 150.55
labor for fertilizer application @P300/ha 600.00 13.48
19-Mar-2013 350 kg fertilizer (9th abd 10th application) 8,898.44 199.96
labor for fertilizer application @P300/ha 600.00 13.48
12-Apr-2013 Hand weeding @ P135/head/day 3,645.00 81.91
29-May-2013 275 kg fertilizer (11th and 12th application) 6,860.70 154.17
labor for fertilizer application @P300/ha 600.00 13.48
6-Jun-2013 Hand weeding @ P135/head/day 3,105.00 69.78
18-Jul-2013 Hand weeding @ P135/head/day 1,755.00 39.44
Chopping off leaves @ P500/ha 500.00 11.24
5-Aug-2013 50 kg urea, 4 liters Ethrel 2,141.13 48.12
labor for fertilizer application 2,109.93 47.41
15-Nov-2013 Hand weeding and rounding up 2,835.00 63.71
Chopping off leaves @ P500/ha 500.00 11.24
30-Jan-2014 to
19-Feb-2014 Harvesting 22,730.33 510.79

Cost of Production PhP124,776.22 USD 2,803.96

Gross income 209,306.38 4,703.51
NET INCOME 84,530.16 1,899.55
Note:
1 bag = 50 kilos
1 drum = 200 liters
Also, Aliette (systemic fungicide) is used to treat pineapple slips before planting

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V. FUTURE OUTLOOK

Dolefil plans to expand by another 12,000 hectares from its current land area to meet the
growing demand of its Asian market. It is eyeing the provinces of North Cotabato and Bukidnon
for its expansion (Cayon, 2014). The land acquisition may be through direct purchase, lease or
growership. Some landowners reportedly offered their lands in exchange for buying out their
indebtedness from banks and informal lenders (Cayon, 2014).

The company also targets expanding its plantations along the equatorial belt. It has begun
testing plantation operations in Indonesia and Vietnam, and may explore Sierra Leone in Africa
(Cayon, 2014).

Currently, Dolefil is shipping planting materials (MG3 crowns) to Thailand. The materials come
from the harvested pineapples in Polomolok and Tupi, which are transported to the agronomy
department. From the said department, materials are segregated according to specifications,
then dipped into fungicide solution (phosphorous) and dried up. The materials are stored up to
seven days until the scheduled shipment. Every week, 10 container vans of planting materials
are transported to that country.

REFERENCES

“Dolefil growers said ready for integration.” BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved at

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.Php?section=Economy&title=Dolefil-growers-said-
ready-for-integration&id=86532.

Baroña, Maria Lizbeth Severa J. 2005. Our Fruit Industry: Where We Stand. BAR Digest July-
September 2005 (Vol. 7 No.3)

Bethge, Wolfgang. 2003. http://www.insights-philippines.de/ananaseng.htm

Cayon, Manuel T. (2014, April 24). Dole PHL to expand plantation area to meet new markets.
Business Mirror. Retrieved from
http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.Php/en/news/regions/31023-dole-phl-to-expand-
plantation-area-to-meet-new-markets

Dhang, Partho (2012). Current Agricultural Chemical Trends in the Philippines.

http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---7883.htm. Accessed May 20, 2014.

Digal, Larry. 2007. Agricultural Contracts in Mindanao: the Case of Banana and Pineapple. PIDS
Discussion Paper Series 2007-24.

Dolefil company briefer

23
Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER). 2008. Nomination Brief for
DoleFil for the Public Eye Global Awards.

"Pineapple Growers End Endosulfan Use." GMA News Online. N.p., 28 Oct. 2008. Web. 08 July
2014.

Pineapple Production Guide. http://businessdiary.com.ph/4473/pineapple-production-guide/

Reiger, Mark. www.fruit-crops.com

Tangonan NG, Pecho JA, & Butardo EGG. 2008. Disease profile of crops in USM,
Kabacan, Cotabato: a practical guide to diagnosing and controlling common field
diseases. University of Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center (USMARC),
USM, Kabacan, Cotabato, Philippines, 50pp

Teruel, Jose. 2005. Hazardous Technologies, Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and Impact on
the Health of Agriculture Workers. The Case of Dole Philippines, Inc. Presented during the
International Agricultural Workers Meeting, May 20-22, 2005, Penang, Malaysia.

Understanding the Job Contracting Program: A draft manual for the implementation of job
contracting in Agriculture Operations Division of Dole Philippines, Inc.

24
Appendix Table 1. Chemical names, toxicity and environmental effects of selected pesticides used
in growing pineapple in the Philippines. [compiled from Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) from the internet]

Trade Chemical Use Toxicity Health/ Environmental

Name Name Effects
Aliette Aluminum tris Fungicide Acute Oral LD50 (rats): 2,860mg/kg; Potential carcinogen due to its
(O-ethyl (systemic) Acute Dermal LD50 (rabbit): >2,000 crystalline silica (quartz) content;
phosphonate) mg/kg Toxic to aquatic and estuarine
Acute inhalation LC50 (rat): 5 mg/L invertebrates
at 4h
Diazinon Diazinon Insecticide - Acute Oral LD50(rat):1600mg/kg; Highly toxic to birds, fish, and
organophosphate Inhalation LC50 (rat): >2.5mg/l (4hr); other wildlife
Acute Dermal LD50 (rabbit):
>2020mg/kg
ECOACUTE TOXICITY: rainbow
trout: 1.8mg AI/L; Mallard Oral
LD50: 1.44mg/kg; Daphnia LC50
(48hr):0.0011mg AI/L
Hyvar Bromacil or Herbicide Inhalation 4h LC50:>2mg/l, rat; Oral rat: liver effects, organ weight
Lithium salt Dermal LD50: >5000mg/kg rat; Oral changes, thyroid effects, reduced
LD50:1,414mg/kg rat female body weight gain;
Carcinogenecity:Tumor in
laboratory animals; Mutagenecity:
Genetic damage in some cultured
mammalian cells
>known to leach in soil and
contaminate groundwater as a
result of normal field use.
Karmex Diuron Herbicide Acute Oral LD50 (rats): 1,879mg/kg; Long term exposure may cause
Acute Dermal LD50 (rabbit): >5,000 enlarging of liver and/or spleen.
mg/kg
Acute inhalation LC50 (rat):
2.03mg/L
Ametryn Triazine Herbicide Oral LD50 (rabbits): 4,494 mg/kg; Ecotoxicity: Rainbow trout, 96hr
Dermal LD50 (rats): >2,020 mg/kg LC50: 3.2ppm; Daphnia, 48hr
Inhalation LC50 (rat): > 5.6 mg/L air EC50:28ppm; Green algae 7-day
(4hrs) EC50: 3.67ppb; Bobwhite Quail
14 days LD50: 2250mg /kg
Low bioaccumulation potential
Ethrel Ethepon Plant regulator Oral (LD50): >5,000mg/kg; Acute Mild reproductive toxicity in
Dermal (LD50):>2,000mg/kg; Acute offspring; not neurotoxic; not
Inhalation (LC50): 4.5mg/L 4hr mutagenic
Gibberellic Oral(LD50):Acute:6300mg/kg(rat); No data
Acid 8500mg/kg(mouse);
Dermal(LD50):acute
2001mg/kg(rabbit)

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