Fruit producers seek bigger export markets

Tien Giang (VNA) - Fruit producers are making plans to increase exports to major markets, including Russia , Eastern Europe and the US , but say they need more State investment to meet strict agricultural standards.

After a two-year promotional campaign in Russia , the Cuu Long ( Mekong )
Delta's exports of fruit to that country have increased substantially.

Particularly popular in Russia are sweet mango, dragonfruit, rambutan
and longan, according to La Quang Ninh, head of the department of
investment, trade and tourism promotion of the Tien Giang Investment
Promotion Centre.

The Tien Giang province-based MT Ltd. Co has exported 1,000 tonnes of
rambutan as well as banana, manioc and crironella to the US and the
Republic of Korea this year.

During the first eight months of the year, the CPR Export Ltd. Co exported
80 tonnes of honey pomelos from the Huong Mien Tay (Western Scent) fruit
depot to Germany .

That amount was three times higher than last year, and is expected to
reach 100 tonnes by the year-end.

Dam Van Hung, owner of the Western Scent fruit depot, said that overseas
clients have requested even more but his supplies are insufficient.

Besides the Nam Roi pomelo, the "king of fruit" in the Mekong Delta, honey
pomelo has also become popular for its taste.
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Despite the increased demand, the Hanoi-based Xoai (Mango) Import-Export
and Investment Ltd. Co., a regular exporter to the Russian market, has
exported only a few hundred kilos of fruit as air shipping is costly.

Tran Anh Dung, owner of a fruit depot in Ben Tre province said there are
few businesses that could work with him to export fruit. Dung said that most
fruit depot owners have to seek potential customers themselves.

Despite the abundant supply of pomelos, only 30 percent of them meet the
export standards of big markets like Russia and the US , said Hung.

Hung last month had to turn down an order of 20 tonnes of pomelo from his
Russia customers because of their high standards on shape, quality and
quarantine inspection.

He said that local companies can export 70-80 percent more pomelos if more
investment is put into the industry.

To expand business, the Xoai company plans to build a factory next year in
Tan My Chanh Industrial Park in Tien Giang province, which produces
processed fruit for export to Russia and Europe by sea.

Fruit-tree farmers also need to update cultivation technologies to
guarantee good quality and safety for their products, Hung said, adding that
more help is needed from the State.

"We can meet the high standards from strict customers if there is more
investment in cultivation that follows the global Good Agricultural
Practices (GAP)," Ninh said.