Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - While gettingVietnamese mangoes approved for shipment to the US was a roaring success, localexporters are not resting on their laurels.

Phan Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Post-ImportPlant Quarantine Centre II under the Plant Protection Department, said allbatches of mangoes exported by 12 local enterprises since April have met USregulations. However, a few Hoa Loc mangoes went off quickly due to theinexperience of the businesses.

Shipping fresh food to remote markets is alwaysa challenge due to the damage cause by transportation, preservation and sales,so there is no need to worry about progress in this new market, according toHien.

So far, about 130 tonnes of mangoes have beenexported to the US from five provinces and cities. Of which, 80 tonnes havebeen exported by the Vina T&T Import Export Trading Service Co, Ltd basedin Ho Chi Minh City.

Besides shipping by air, the company had shippedtwo batches by sea, Nguyen Dinh Tung, Vina T&T general director said. Thefirst batch reached supermarkets in the US in good condition after 23 days atsea.

Ngo Tuong Vy, Deputy Director of Chanh Thu FruitImport and Export Company Limited in Ben Tre province, the first company toexport mangoes to the US, said the firm had so far shipped about 50 tonnes.

She said the company had temporarily reducedexport volume due to seasonal issues and competition with cheap Mexicanmangoes.

The company had difficulties in preservation,leading to high loss rate so it needed to continue improving technology beforeexporting more at the end of this year, the high season for consumption, Vysaid.

Moc Phat Import Export Co, Ltd based in HCM Cityhad exported four tonnes of fresh mangoes to the US, said Vuong Dinh Khoat, MocPhat’s Chairman of the Board of Members. The company also halted temporarilyexports to this market because of the fierce competition in the market.

"Businesses do not need to export in largequantities, it is more important to be efficient," Khoat said.

Khoat, who is also the Chairman of Toan PhatIrradiation Co, said his company was waiting to join an irradiation programmefor fresh fruits exported to the US so Moc Phat’s export mangoes must beirradiated by another company.

When in operation, the Toan Phát Irradiation Co,Ltd would cut cost of irradiation service for Vietnamese fruits because now,only Son Son Company irradiated fresh fruits.

According to Le Van Thiet, Deputy Director ofthe Plant Protection Department, the US is an important market for Vietnamesefruits so if local companies don't meet import requirements, the risk of losingthe market will be very high.

The department has encouraged enterprises tocomply with regulations to keep the reputation of Vietnamese fruits. Now,pomelos and fresh avocados are under negotiation to be exported to the US.

Meanwhile, Vy said Vietnamese mangoes would needa lot of promotional activities among American consumers to increase theircompetitiveness over mangoes from Thailand and Mexico.-VNS/VNA