Binh Thuan dragon fruit has been certified for its trademark by the United States Patent and Trademarks Office (USTPO), said an official on Jan. 16.

The Certificate of Trademark, owned by the provincial Department of Science and Technology, will be valid for ten years, starting from the application date on Dec. 14, 2009. The certificate can be extended for successive 10-year periods.

In order to be eligible for USTPO’s recognition, the farmers must grow, harvest and preserve the fruits in accordance with the Good Agricultural Practices and meet the criteria for appearance and nutritious ingredients as declared under the certificate.

Bui Dang Hung, Chairman of Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association said that the trademark protection for Binh Thuan dragon fruit is of important significance, contributing to strengthening its foothold and protecting interests of consumers in the US.

Binh Thuan is the biggest producer of dragon fruits in Vietnam with a total area of over 16,000 hectares and the average annual output of more than 400,000 tonnes.

The fruit has been exported to Asia, the US, European markets, Japan, the Republic of Korea, with China accounting for nearly 70 percent of market share./.