The first batch of lychees exported to the US

One ton of early-ripening lychees has been irradiated and is expected to be exported to the US by air on May 30, according to information from the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture).

Speaking to the press, Mr. Hoang Trung, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that right after the first shipment, on June 1, another 6 tons of fruit (including one ton of lychee) will continue to be shipped to the US. On June 10, the Australian market will also open to Vietnamese lychee.

"The export quantity has not been disclosed yet, but the company has committed to purchasing at 10% higher than the market price. These are two demanding markets that have just opened their doors to Vietnamese lychees, so this year there is no hope of exporting in large quantities," Mr. Trung informed.

In addition to the traditional market of China, this year lychee will be exported to the US and Australia. Photo: Quy Doan/VNE

A representative of the Plant Protection Department also said that up to now, early-ripening lychees in Bac Giang and Hai Duong are having good prices, and exporting businesses have signed contracts with households that have been granted growing area codes. Localities also organized trade conferences to promote with businesses to prepare for the harvest.

To be exported to the US and Australian markets, Vietnamese lychees must meet many mandatory regulations according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. The US also issued a list of specific pests and diseases, and some pesticides that are not allowed to be used on lychees. In contrast, Vietnam has also completed an irradiation map (a process for sterilizing, cleaning products, improving quality and extending shelf life), at a cost of 0.6-1 USD per kg of product.

Currently, the country has two irradiation facilities, both located in Ho Chi Minh City, so the Ministry of Agriculture and Science & Technology is renovating and upgrading the Hanoi Irradiation Center to facilitate the rapid quarantine of exported lychees, completing the final stages before being exported.

In addition to the new markets of the US and Australia, the representative of the management agency said that China is still the traditional market for Vietnamese lychees. Because the lychee season is only over a month, the Department also requested the inspection agencies at the border gates to go to the place to coordinate with the Chinese inspection agency to create conditions for the goods to be cleared as quickly as possible, especially at the two border gates of Tan Thanh (Lang Son) and Kim Thanh (Lao Cai).

According to VNE