First Vietnamese pomelo exported to US

By Hoang Nam November 28, 2022 | 03:25 am PT

A truck containing the first batch of Vietnamese grapefruits to be exported to the U.S. is pictured in Ben Tre Province on November 28, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam

Pomelo became the seventh Vietnamese fruit to be officially exported to the U.S. Monday with the first 100 tons being transported from the southern province of Ben Tre.

The batch is split into six containers. Four of them will be exported by air and two by sea.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said at the announcement ceremony Monday that the U.S. is one of the most difficult markets in the world but has large demand for fresh fruits.

Americans consume about 12 million tons of fruits annually, with 30% of them imported, he added.

The exported pomelo must come from the 36 growing areas in Vietnam that have been registered with U.S. authorities.

They span 752 hectares, or 0.71% of Vietnam’s total pomelo growing area.

Many measures must be strictly taken to ensure the fruits are clean and healthy.

Ben Tre Province Chairman Tran Ngoc Tam said that of the seven Vietnamese fruits that are exported to the U.S., the province has three: pomelo, longan and rambutan.

Other fruits that have been approved for official U.S. exports are mango, dragon fruit, star apple and lychee.