The United States has greenlighted grapefruit imports from Vietnam and they will be able to officially enter the US market in 60 days, according to Vietnam Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Tran Thanh Nam.
Vietnam already exported pitahaya, rambutan, mango, longan, caimito, and lychee to the United States. Now it can also export grapefruits to this destination and, in the future, it might also export coconuts there, the official stated.
“The companies that wish to export the fruit to the USA must work with Vietnam's plant quarantine units to complete the necessary documents to be able to export their grapefruits to the US soon,” Nam stated.
According to the Crop Production Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country has 105,400 hectares of grapefruit cultivation and a total production of almost 950,000 tons. Vietnam will harvest around 140,000 tons of grapefruit in the first quarter of 2022.
Grapefruit exports in Vietnam generated almost 4.8 million dollars in 2019 and 10.9 million dollars in January-September 2020, i.e. 246.2% more than in the same period of 2019. Vietnam's main grapefruit export markets are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN countries), Canada, and the European Union.
Source: portalportuario.cl