The first batch of Vietnamese dragon fruit was exported to Australia by Hoang Phat one-member Ltd Co in the southern province of Long An.
According to Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, head of the Vietnamese trade office in Australia, this is a good opportunity for Vietnamese businesses, as quality dragon fruit will be sold at high prices. Australian consumers currently purchase off-season dragon fruit at AUD30 per kilogramme (US$23.89).
Export enterprises must pay great attention to food safety, hygiene and quarantines to earn a foothold in Australia’s fastidious market, she added.
The Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia is working with the Embassy and Vietnamese Consulate General in Sydney to promote Vietnamese dragon fruit, with activities including short videos, books and leaflets and Vietnamese Dragon Fruit Day is scheduled for September 30 in Melbourne.
The office will work with the Australian Fruit and Vegetable Associations to promote fruit trade between the two countries, comprising of a programme to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses and bring Vietnamese dragon fruit to Australia’s supply chain.
Dragon fruit is one of Vietnam’s key export fruits, with export sales of US$895.7 million in 2016, 50.3 percent of the country’s total fresh fruit exports and 36.1 percent of its total fruit and vegetable exports.
Vietnamese dragon fruit has been exported to 40 countries and territories such as China, Thailand and Indonesia.
Long An province earns approximately US$40 million annually from dragon fruit export and the province has defined dragon fruit as its second most important crop, following only rice.
