The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently announced that Vietnam has granted access to its market for peaches and nectarines from California.
Over the past few years, multiple rounds of technical negotiations were necessary to overcome the phytosanitary barriers that previously excluded these fruits from the potential Southeast Asian country. Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA’s undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, hailed this as a major victory for California’s nectarine and peach producers.
Meanwhile, a representative from the USDA noted that this is a great example of USDA scientists delivering the crucial research needed for Vietnam’s approval and for future U.S. industry exports. The new market access highlights the vital role of federal scientific research in the food supply system.
It is predicted that strict production and packing protocols will be implemented, but given the success of current export programs, the state’s stone fruit shippers have already shown their commitment to adhering to Vietnam’s requirements.
The CFFA director of trade remarked that Vietnam was identified as a key export market due to its appreciation for high-quality, sweet fruit. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. goods exports to Vietnam totaled USD 11.4 billion in 2022, marking a 3% increase from 2021 and a 146% rise compared to 2012.
(Sources: Asiafruit, The Business Journal)
