Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has now begun officiallyexporting its mangoes to the US market, after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) gave permissionfor the import of fresh mangoes from the Southeast Asian nation in 2017.

A ceremony was jointlyheld in Hanoi on February 18 by the Plant Protection Department  (PPD) underthe Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Office of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inVietnam, to announce the start of the fruit exports.

Mango has become the sixth Vietnamese fruit allowed to enter the USmarket, following dragon fruit, rambutan, lychee, longan, and star apple. To clear way to sell its mangoes in theworld’s biggest economy, the PPD applied fora licence in 2009.

Vietnam has exported mangoes to 40 countries over the world. Its main importersare China, European countries, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and NewZealand.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said thatthe export of Vietnamese mangoes to the US market has affirmed the brand,quality, and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in general andfruits in particular.

According to Doanh, the US market has a very high demand for quality, foodsafety, and hygiene. With the diligence and efforts of Vietnamese famers alongsidetechnical guidance and support from plant protection agencies and businesses,Vietnamese mangoes have met all the requirements of the US market.

He stressed the need for localities, enterprises, and farmers to strictlyfollow the cultivation process to create fruits that not only maintainproductivity, but also ensure that regulations on quality and food safety aremet.

To export fresh mangoes to the US, Vietnamese farmers, localities,and businesses have to meet strict requirements. The planting, processing, andpackaging facilities must be granted codes for management and traceability byAPHIS.

All pre-export shipments must be treated with irradiation,quarantined, and granted phytosanitary certificates by APHIS. At the arrivalport, the APHIS will check each shipment.

Conrad Estrada, Regional Director of APHIS in Vietnam, said APHIS has worked withPPD to ensure that Vietnam’s high quality fruits are not contaminated withpests.

He also highly appreciated the quality and competitiveness ofVietnamese mangoes in the US.

Mango is one of Vietnam’s fruits of strength with a total of nearly90,000ha of farms nationwide, produce nearly 800,000 tonnes per year. Inparticular, Vietnam has nearly 50 delicious mango varieties.–VNA