The first batch of Vietnamese mangoes was shipped to the US by the air on April 18. — Photo nld.com.vn
The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap has become the first locality in Viet Nam to export mangoes to the US, according to an announcement on April 18.
Nguyen Thi Hong Thu, director of Chanh Thu Fruits Import and Export Ltd Co, said the company shipped the first batch of eight tonnes of mangoes to the US by air on April 18. The batch came from the My Xuong Mango Cooperative in Dong Thap.
At present, the company has managed over 25 regions growing all kinds of fruit over an area of nearly 400ha, including 175ha of mango under construction.
In addition, the company has worked with many cooperatives growing fruits, including the My Xuong mango cooperative and the Binh Phuoc Xuan in An Giang Province.
At a ceremony announcing the first mango exports to the US on April 18, Nguyen Thanh Hung, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Thap, said the province is home to 9,200ha of mangoes, producing 100,000 tonnes per year, topping the Mekong Delta region.
Mangoes are among the province’s five key products to be boosted for export.
Dong Thap has applied Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGap) and Global Good Agricultural Practices (GlobalGap) in mango cultivation, which has helped to improve quality.
Mangoes are grown in 59 among 63 localities in Viet Nam. Of which, the Mekong Delta region accounts for 48 per cent of mango plantations in the country. About 96 per cent of Vietnamese mangoes are produced and sold locally.
Vietnamese mangoes have been exported to 40 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China and Thailand.
Le Quoc Doanh, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development, said Viet Nam has received permission to export dragon fruit, longan, litchi and star apple to the US.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Plant Protection Department said the US had finally agreed to import Vietnamese mangoes after 10 years of negotiations.
Viet Nam gained an export value of US$4 billion from fruit and vegetables last year, according to the ministry. — VNS