Manila, June 2 -- Philippine mangoes have officially made their commercial debut in Italy, as over half a ton of the country's prized tropical fruit recently arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport in an attempt to capture and win over the Italian market.

In a news release on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said this is the first time Philippine mangoes have been exported commercially to Italy, which was made possible through the collective effort of Filipino entrepreneurs and backed by the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Embassy in Rome.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this maiden mango export to Italy is more than a one-off achievement, as it sends a positive signal to the entire local mango ind...