US$19.5 MILLION WORTH OF STRAWBERRIES A YEAR FROM CAMERON HIGHLANDS

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, July 12 (Bernama) -- The 30 hectares of land in Cameron
Highlands grown with strawberries is capable of producing US$19.5 million (RM70
million) worth of the fruit each year.

Cameron Highlands is a highland region located about 121 km east of Ipoh and
about 214 km north of Kuala Lumpur, in east coast state of Pahang in Peninsular
Malaysia.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Johari Baharum
said the achievement was due to the proactive measures taken by the ministry to
ensure that the quality of strawberries produced here was on par with that of
imported strawberries.

"If previously the strawberries grown here were smaller and rather sour,
now they are bigger, sweet and more delicious.

"Because of their better quality, the fruit has begun to be exported to
Singapore," he said after the launching of the "One District, One Industry"
programme, here.

Johari said the strawberry industry would grow more rapidly through
downstream activities like producing strawberry jam, pickled and candied
strawberries, strawberry ice-cream, dried strawberries, and strawberry-flavoured
tea and cordial.

He said the strawberry industry should be encouraged and given serious
attention as it could help raise the income of local residents.

-- BERNAMA