Barbara Nadeau, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canada, opens a cherry festival at the Fivimart supermarket. — VNS Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Vietnamese consumers got a taste of cherries from British Columbia during the first ever Canadian Cherry Festival held in Viet Nam.

The cherry festival was co-hosted by the Embassy of Canada and the Fivimart supermarket chain in Ha Noi. It was the first time Fivimart had introduced Canadian cherries to its customers.

"The Embassy of Canada is proud to present Canadian cherries to Vietnamese consumers and to associate with Fivimart in this promotional event," Barbara Nadeau, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canada, said.

"I am delighted to see that more Vietnamese consumers have access to the finest fresh Canadian cherries through the Fivimart supermarket chain in Ha Noi," Nadeau said.

Most Canadian cherries are produced in British Columbia, the country's westernmost province, located on the Pacific Coast. Most of the cherry farmers there are accredited for food safety and traceability standards. Systems are in place to ensure that the fruits are free of insects and disease and are safe, in addition to being nutritious.

Agriculture and agri-foods are an important part of bilateral trade between Canada and Viet Nam, accounting for approximately half of Canada's exports to Viet Nam. Some Canadian specialities, such as lobsters, geoducks, oysters, ambrosia apples and cherries, are gaining popularity in Viet Nam. — VNS