More VN fruit can enter Japanese market: expert
More VN fruit can enter Japanese market: expert
While Vietnamese blue dragon and mango have already managed to make their way onto Japanese shelves, several other types of fruit from the country will be able to enter this strict market in the near future, a Japanese agricultural expert told Tuoi Tre.
Vietnamese blue dragon fruit has already entered Japan, and this month it will be joined by mango, said Koshida Ryu, an agricultural expert at the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Before being shipped to Japan the fruits will undergo a process to kill insects and worms, he added.
Ryu has lived in Vietnam for more than ten years, and he has an intensive knowledge about, and a great love for, the country’s fruit.
Japan has to import most of its fruit, but it is a great pity that few Japanese people know that there are a number of fruits that suit their tastes in Vietnam, he said.
The technology factor
Ryu said Vietnam can send its rambutan, longan, and star apple fruits to Japan if there is adequate technology to clean the fruits prior to export.
Technical barriers are the main reason that there are now only two types of Vietnamese fruit sold in Japan, he said, referring to the fact that Japan, unlike other markets, does not accept fruits that are treated by irradiation.
Vietnam should conduct research to determine the most appropriate technology to treat the said fruits to make them acceptable on the Japanese market, he advised.
The expert added that there is little chance for Vietnamese oranges and bananas to penetrate the Japanese market, as local consumers have ‘stable taste.’
“There are already Filipino bananas in Japan, and local customers prefer US and Australian oranges,” he explained.
As strict market as it is, Japan is also reputable for its stable business climate.
Once any type of Vietnamese fruit is accepted by Japan, there will surely be long-term business, and the exporters should not worry about unexpected contract cancelations, which are common in other markets, he said.
Ryu said Vietnam has to reorganize its production in order to increase its chances to enter a strict market like Japan.
One drawback of Vietnamese fruit is that quality varies among the same shipment, he said. Meanwhile, production is not well-organized, and exporters face problems when they have to mobilize enough fruit for an export order.
Production should thus be carried out under a large farm or cooperative to ensure consistent quality and quantity, he said.
While Japanese supermarkets need fruit supplies year-round, Vietnam will definitely lose as it can only supply certain fruits by season, Ryu.
However, the good news is that many Japanese consumers love Vietnamese fruit, he added.
He has brought some dried Vietnamese fruit back to Japan, and those who tasted them said they love the fruit.
“Some even insisted that they will travel to Vietnam to eat more local fruit there,” Ryu said.
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