The only fruit that Vietnam has, the US has to buy.

Currently, Vietnam is the only country in the world that chooses star apple as an export commodity.

Following the official import of Vietnamese fruits into the US market, including dragon fruit, rambutan, lychee, and longan, the US Department of Agriculture has just authorized the import of star apple from Vietnam, expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. Currently, Vietnam is the only country in the world that has chosen star apple as an export commodity.

Star apple

In the Federal Register dated July 19, 2016, the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stated: Following a request from the Vietnam Plant Protection Department, APHIS has completed a Pest Risk Analysis Report to assess the risks associated with importing fresh star apple fruit from Vietnam into the continental United States.

Based on this Analysis Report, APHIS concludes that fresh star apple fruit from Vietnam is safe for import into the continental United States and determines that applying one or more specific phytosanitary standards would mitigate the risks of introduction or spread of plant pests or diseases associated with the importation of fresh star apple fruit from Vietnam.

These standards are: Fresh star apples can only be imported as commercial goods; each shipment of fresh star apples must have a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Vietnam Plant Protection Department.

Each shipment of fresh star apple fruit must be processed in accordance with Section 7, Part 305 of the Federal Regulations (CFR); and each shipment of fresh star apple fruit is subject to inspection upon arrival at a U.S. port.

According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Vietnam is the only country in the world that chooses star apple as an export commodity. Other countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, India, Thailand, and the Northern Territory (Australia) also grow star apple trees, but they do not choose to export them; they only consume them domestically.

To promote the brand of Vietnamese star apple, the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) and the Vietnam Book of Records Center (VietKings) have officially proposed to the Asian Records Organization and the World Records Organization to establish the record "Vietnam is the only country in the world exporting star apples".

There are many varieties of star apple, such as Lo Ren star apple, brown-purple star apple, yellow star apple, etc. Among them, the Lo Ren star apple variety is especially popular because its fruit has a thin, shiny skin, abundant flesh, a sweet and fragrant flavor, and is rich in nutrients, making it a favorite among many people.

Countries around the world highly appreciate the quality of Lo Ren star apples from Vietnam. In recent years, to be exported abroad, Vietnamese star apples have had to meet GlobalGAP standards. This has been successfully implemented for many years by the Lo Ren Vinh Kim Star Apple Cooperative (Tien Giang province) on 55 hectares of star apple orchards, yielding 400 tons per year.

Every year, the Lo Ren Vinh Kim Star Apple Cooperative exports over 10 tons of star apples to the UK and Canada. In addition, the cooperative exported 50 tons of star apples to Russia and Germany in 2012. Along with Lo Ren star apples, two other varieties, the Golden Butter Star Apple (Dong Thap) and the Pink Butter Star Apple (Ben Tre), are also being exported abroad.

According to VOV