Fruit and vegetable exports in the first nine months of this year were worth 320 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 3.5 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Exports in September alone were worth 38 million USD, the ministry said.

Dinh Van Huong, chairman of the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association, said Vietnamese fruit and vegetables were competing successfully with those of other countries – including Thailand , China and the US – due mainly to the application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to reduce costs and boost quality.

Huong said he expected exports to be worth 450 million USD this year, 50 million USD higher than in 2008.

To boost exports, the ministry encouraged farmers to grow the most suitable fruit and vegetables for their areas.

The ministry also improved seed quality and informed farmers about the latest production processing and preservation processing and reservation technologies. The fruit and vegetable industry has invested heavily in trade promotion, expanding its export markets, building and advertising trade marks and developing existing export markets.

Vietnam exports fresh, frozen and canned fruit and vegetable products to 20 countries and territories, including mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Russia, Germany, Australia and France.

Fruit exports include oranges, pomelos, durians, star apples, longans, blue dragon fruits and plums, while vegetable exports include potatoes, cabbages, cucumbers, waky pumpkins and taro./.