The U.S. Wants to Import Vietnamese Longan, Rambutan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will import longan and rambutan from Vietnam in addition to blue-dragon fruit, according to an official from the Southern of Fruit Research Institute (Sofri).
At the workshop on Growing, Processing and Exporting Fruits to the European Union in Tien Giang September 4, Dr. Pham Ngoc Lieu, deputy head of the Sofri said almost all of the longan and rambutan exported to the U.S. must meet Global GAP certificate.
Lieu said the U.S. Department has suggested the Sofri to help local farmers to grow the longan and rambutan according to Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) like blue-dragon fruit cultivation.
More and more fruit farms in Mekong Delta region are following the GAP in cultivation that is seen as an “entry card” to any countries.
Dr. Pham Ngoc Lieu said currently three blue-dragon fruit farms in central Binh Thuan province received EurepGAP certificate, while Vinh Kim Lo Ren star apple in Tien Giang and Hoa Loc sweet mango in Can Tho being recognized to meet GlobalGAP standard.
Lieu said the U.S. is considering imports of an additional eight kinds of Vietnamese fruits in the near time.
Vietnam raked in US$242 million from fruit and vegetable exports in the first eight months of 2008, up 17 per cent on year.
Dr. Nguyen Minh Chau, head of the Sofri said the country now exports only 15 per cent of its total fruit output, adding that the export will boom if the fruits meet global food safety certificates.
The workshop on exporting fruit to EU was jointly organized by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), the Sofri and the Swiss Import Promotion Program (OSEC/SIPPO). (Youth, Rauhoaqua)
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