Vietnam exports first batch of organic coffee beans to Japan

Vinh Hiep Co., Ltd. in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai officially exported around 40 tons of the product to Japan, a demanding market.

The first Vietnamese organic coffee beans are exported to Japan. (Photo nld.com.vn)

Thai Nhu Hiep, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association (VICOFA) and Director of the Vinh Hiep Company Limited, said that despite their high potential, organic coffee beans in Vietnam account for only around 2% in the world’s output, since many Vietnamese farmers are used to traditional farming methods and use chemical fertilizers.

The company has been working with farmers to enhance the value of coffee crops, and in 2016 it invested to transform 42ha of traditional coffee farms into organic coffee farms that follow U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.

The company spent the last two years negotiating with Japanese businesses.

The first shipment was officially exported to Japan at price 35% higher than that of other coffee bean products.

The successful export of the beans will create opportunities to grow the company’s organic coffee product in Japan in the future.

It intends to extend to other markets in Asian countries and the U.S. following its success in Japan.

Source: VNA