AMID the spiky bounty of Davao’s orchards, Maylong Enterprises Corp—the first Philippine company to export durian to China—continues to turn thorny treasures into trade gold at its 1,400-square-meter facility in Barangay Ula, Tugbok District.
Here, fresh and frozen durian is prepped with precision for China’s booming market, where the “king of fruits” has become a symbol of indulgence and status.
“As of October 30, we delivered 1,284 boxes with a net weight of 12,968 kg. Year-to-date exports have surged past 900,000 kilograms—sourced from over 600 farmers across the Davao Region,” according to manager Retchie Tayco during a facility tour hosted for Chinese Consulate General Zhao Xiuzhen and local media last October 30.
The star of the show? Davao’s Puyat variety, known for its golden, creamy flesh, low seeds, and sweet intensity. Regarded as Class A, this variety is harvested at 80-85% maturity, gets washed, graded, and chilled to 13-15°C before packing into ventilated cartons for swift air or sea trips to Guangzhou, Nanning, and beyond.
Meanwhile, those graded B, usually from Duyaya, Cob, Lacson, Chanee, and D101 varieties, are deshelled, pulped into meat or paste, and blast-frozen at -18°C in HACCP lines, boasting a 24-month shelf life.
“Peak for harvest is usually during the months of July and August. On average, we ship 25,000 to 30,000 kilograms of durian every week,” shared admin staff Jisril Rabe.
China’s durian obsession is no fluke. In 2024, imports reached 1.56 million metric tons valued at US$6.99 billion, according to data from China Customs. The fruit’s rich, custardy taste and its protein-sugar-lipid balance align perfectly with Chinese palates. Once a novelty, durian now stars in luxury gifting, it will such as during engagements, business deals, and family celebrations.
For Davao’s growers, Maylong’s model is a game-changer. Sourcing 100% locally, the firm pays up to twice market rates, even for off-spec fruit, while offering free seedlings, training, and funding to farmers that somehow help banish seasonal slumps.
“We’ve been growing durian since 2016, but only with Maylong did our livelihood truly improve. We bought a new vehicle and invested in property,” shared durian producer Gemarie Deo.
Farmer Nestor Talandang also expressed his gratitude towards the company. “In the past, our harvest would simply rot and go to waste because we didn’t have enough buyers.”
With Maylong’s export success, hundreds of livelihoods have flourished—jobs in processing multiply and incomes rise.
“We’re not just exporting durian-we also want to give our farmers a brighter future. We’re happy to see them progress,” said COO May Li in Mandarin.
Consul General Zhao is also confident that through these joint efforts, more Davao products will “make their way to the dining tables of Chinese families.”
“More Chinese people will discover and fall in love with this sweetness from Davao. And this sweet endeavor will surely bring a brighter future and better lives for the durian farmers of Davao,” she said.
From Davao’s farmlands to China’s tables, the king of fruits keeps its crown—ruling palates and quietly uplifting the lives of our local farmers.
