June 28, 2017 | 21:32 (GMT+7)
Vietnamese dragon fruit exported to 40 markets
Vietnamese dragon fruit has been exported to 40 countries and territories such as China, Thailand and Indonesia, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
The fruit is also entering new markets including India, New Zealand, Australia and Chile, said the ministry.
The MARD is coordinating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to complete procedures to ship dragon fruit to Australia in 2017.
Earlier this year, in January, the Australian Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources released its final review of bio-security requirements for Vietnam’s fresh dragon fruits.
In mid-June, a letter was sent to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, detailing the process of opening the market for Vietnamese fresh dragon fruit.
The embassy also recommended supporting Vietnam in asking permission from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand to use irradiation treatment on dragon fruit shipped to Australia.
Dragon fruit is a Vietnamese agricultural staple, with export earnings of USD 895.7 million in 2016, making up of 50.3 percent of the country’s fresh fruit exports and 36.1 percent of overall vegetable exports.
Source: VNA