US approves star apple fruit imports from Vietnam

Vietnam will be the first country globally allowed to export star apple fruits to the US.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service under the US Department of Agriculture on September 27 sent a document to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) officially approving the import of the Vietnamese fruits, after a notice to the same effect was published by the US Federal Registrar in April. 

Star apple joins litchi, longan, rambutan and dragon fruits to enter the US from Vietnam, thanks to the country’s efforts over the last 10 years to meet plant quarantine standards. 

Hoang Trung, head of the MARD’s Plant Protection Department, said similar to other fruits which have been approved for export to the US, star apple must be planted in coded areas and treated with irradiation and checked for eight kinds of insects.

After receiving the US notice, several Vietnamese businesses in the southern region registered for star apple export, he said, noting that shipments may be conducted in 2017. 

Vietnam has about 5,000 ha of star apple fruits, mostly in the Mekong Delta, especially Tien Giang and Can Tho, which yield about 60,000 tonnes annually. 

Vietnamese star apple has been exported to China and other ASEAN nations. Vietnam is also waiting for authorisation from the Republic of Korea to ship the fruit to the market.