On the morning of June 1, Yen Chau district held a ceremony to announce the export of its specialty to the four key markets with this year’s crop. Notably, this is the first time that Son La mangoes have been exported to the US and UK, two selective markets with strict criteria. It took place as part of the Yen Chau Mango Festival 2019.
In 2019, mango production in Son La has continued to achieve satisfactory results. With about 15,700 ha of mango farming, the output is expected to reach about 35,500 tonnes, of which the volume eligible for exports is at over 7,500 tonnes, with significantly improvements compared to 2018. So far, Son La province has consumed more than 15,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes, of which exports have reached over 2,500 tonnes.
According to Ha Nhu Hue, Chairman of Yen Chau district People's Committee, mango is one of the key crops in the locale. The district now has more than 1,560 ha of mango, with output reaching nearly 7,200 tonnes.
The first export batch of Yen Chau mango was loaded on three containers, with medium-size fruit, 0.8-1.1 kg each, purchased by Green Path Vietnam Company for transfer to partners in the US by air route. Immediately after the announcement ceremony, there were three container cars carrying more than 90 tonnes of mango from Yen Chau to China. 10 tonnes of local mangoes will also be exported to the US and UK. In addition, over one tonne of mangoes have been sent to Hanoi for verification and will be exported to Australia if they meet the import standards.
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The first three containers bringing mangoes of the 2019 crop from Yen Chau district, in Son La province, to foreign markets. (Photo: NDO/Thanh Tra)
After more than a month since the first shipment of Vietnamese mangoes to the US, four provinces in the Mekong Delta have participated in exporting mangoes to the fastidious market, namely Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang and Tien Giang. Yen Chau is the fifth locality in the country and the first in the North to export mangoes to this high-potential market.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh highly praised Son La for actively organising the event.
“It can be said that local products have met the strict requirements from the fastidious markets. Currently, Son La has more than 60,000 fruit trees, leading in the North and ranked second in the country in terms of cultivating area. Son La also does a great job of connecting scientists, businesses and farmers, while proactively and well performing market promotion to create conditions for farmers and businesses to consume products conveniently," said Doanh.
He also announced that Vietnam's mangoes have been exported to 40 countries and territories worldwide, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), the EU, Australia, the US, the UK and Canada. Mango is the sixth fruit of Vietnam to be officially exported to the US, after dragon fruit, rambutan, longan, lychee and star apple.
Together with the announcement of Son La mango products exported to the US, the UK, Australian and Chinese markets in 2019, the Yen Chau Mango Festival 2019 is being held from May 31 to June 2 with booths introducing local agricultural and handicraft products, as well as various activities, including a mango harvesting contest.
Also at the festival, Yen Chau banana produce was officially certified by the National Office of Intellectual Property as a certificated brand, covering 12 communes and towns with 1,500 ha.
