By Ahmad Erwan Othman
SERDANG, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The new Sarawak Gold (SG1) pineapple variety is stealing the spotlight at Laman Nanas during MAHA 2026, which is in full swing at the Malaysia Agriculture Expo Park (MAEPS).
Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) director-general Mohd Khairuzamri M. Salleh said seven tonnes of SG1 pineapples have been shipped in from Sarawak, giving visitors a rare chance to savour the fruit's one-of-a-kind taste and unique appeal.
He described the SG1, first discovered and cultivated in Miri, as a premium pineapple variety with immense commercial promise.
"SG1 stands out for several reasons. Its sweetness rivals that of the popular MD2, while its crown flaunts a striking rose-like shape, and the fruit delivers consistent quality and flavour from top to bottom.
"Better yet, SG1 matures in just nine months, significantly shorter than MD2, which takes 14 months from planting to harvest," he told Bernama when met at Laman Nanas, MAHA 2026, today.
Mohd Khairuzamri revealed that the SG1 variety can be planted at a remarkably high density of between 25,000 and 30,000 plants per acre, boosting output without the need for sprawling farmlands.
LPNM is now working to expand cultivation of the variety to Peninsular Malaysia, he said, with SG1 seedlings expected to reach growers in wider circulation by next year.
On the export front, he shared that trial shipments from Sarawak to Singapore have already proven successful.
With its strong resilience, the variety shows tremendous potential to break into markets like China and New Zealand as well.
Meanwhile, Laman Nanas at this year's MAHA carries the theme "Value Creation for Food Security," aimed at shifting public perception of the pineapple industry.
"Our narrative is 'one planting, three harvests'. Visitors will discover that pineapples offer far more than fresh fruit.
“The harvest extends to seeds, and even waste from the plant can be transformed into high-value products like ruminant feed, clothing and paper," he explained.
MAHA 2026 is running from Aug 28 to Sept 6 at MAEPS, featuring some 2,000 exhibitors and is expected to draw over four million visitors.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
