Vietnamese dragon fruit went up for sale at Australian grocery stores from September 24 after nine years of negotiations, following lychees and mangoes.(Photo: VNA)
Sydney (VNA) – Vietnamese dragon fruit went up for sale atAustralian grocery stores from September 24 after nine years of negotiations,following lychees and mangoes.
The first batch of Vietnamese dragon fruit was exported to Australia by HoangPhat one-member Ltd Co in the southern province of Long An.
According to Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, head of the Vietnamese trade office inAustralia, this is a good opportunity for Vietnamese businesses as qualitydragon fruit will be sold at high prices. Australian consumers currentlypurchase off-season dragon fruit at 30 AUD per kilogrammes (23.89 USD).
Export enterprises need to pay attention to food safety and hygiene and quarantinesto earn a foothold in Australia’s fastidious market, she added.
The Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia is working with the Embassy andVietnamese Consulate General in Sydney to promote Vietnamese dragon fruit, withactivities including include short videos, books and leaflets. The VietnameseDragon Fruit Day is scheduled for September 30 in Melbourne.
The office will work with the Australian Fruit and Vegetable Associations topromote fruit trade between two countries, comprising a programme to enhanceVietnamese businesses’ competitiveness and bring Vietnamese dragon fruit toAustralia’s supply chain.
Dragon fruit is one of Vietnam’s key export fruits, and saw export sales of895.7 million USD in 2016, 50.3 percent of the country’s total fresh fruitexports and 36.1 percent of its total fruit and vegetable exports.
Vietnamese dragon fruit has been exported to 40 countries and territories suchas China, Thailand and Indonesia.
Long An province earns about 40 million USD annually from dragon fruit export.The province has defined dragon fruit as its second most important crop, onlyafter rice.-VNA
VNA
