A fruit festival has opened at the GO! My Tho shopping mall in Tien Giang to promote specialty items from across the country.
They include durian, dragon fruit, orange, mango, rambutan, star apple, mangosteen, coconut, watermelon, cantaloupe, Vietnamese cherry, custard apple, guava, green skin grapefruit and pineapple, litchi, and plum.
It is the first fruit exhibition held by Central Retail Vietnam in collaboration with the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, and it has attracted around 30 businesses, cooperatives and major suppliers to the province.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pham Van Trong, deputy chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said since it situated on the Tien River and benefits from huge alluvium deposits, Tien Giang has excellent conditions for growing fruit trees.
It has 68,000ha of orchards that yield over 1.8 million tonnes of fruits a year, many with good brand names and high value, and meet domestic and export demand.
A number of large-scale agricultural areas have been established with many products with geographical indications and collective trademark certifications such as Cai Lay durian, Cho Gao dragon fruit and Hoa Loc mango.
The province has always focused on promoting its specialty fruits, Trong said.
“Through the event, businesses, distribution co-operatives, business households, and farmers inside and outside the province will have a chance to meet, exchange information, share experiences, and strengthen co-operation.”
Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Thailand’s consul general in HCM City, said: “The fruit festival is inspired by the Double Fifth Festival, when the ripe fruit season begins in the south and the lychee harvest in the north.”
Central Retail has strived to “build resilience and sustainability for the Vietnamese local communities, as well as empowered the Vietnamese people through their corporate social responsibility activities along with promoting Vietnamese products such as these high-quality fruits”, she added.
Nguyen Thi Bich Van, head of communications for Central Retail, said the festival would also be held throughout her company’s distribution system at GO!, Big C, Tops Market, and mini go! stores.
The festival will run until June 5. — VNS