The shipment of the first batch of 16 tons of “Dien” pomelos to the US was announced at a ceremony on December 5 in northern mountainous Hoa Binh province’s Luong Son district, where the fruit was cultivated, the Government News has reported.

It quoted Vice Chairman of the Hoa Binh Provincial People’s Committee Dinh Cong Su as saying that the province has received orders for “Dien” pomelos from the US and several EU countries.

The first container local of the fruit was exported to the UK a year ago.

Vietnam boasts a total pomelo cultivation area of 105,400 ha, yielding output of roughly 950,000 tons each year.

Pomelos are the seventh fresh Vietnamese fruit licensed to enter the US, following mangoes, longans, lychees, dragon fruit, rambutans, and star apples.

All Vietnamese fruit entering the market must obtain both Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) and GlobalGAP certifications.

According to regulations in the US, imported fruit must meet its strict standards in terms of cultivation areas and packaging facilities.

Products must also be irradiated at a stipulated factory under the supervision of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) at the US Department of Agriculture.

The US is Vietnam’s second-largest export market for fruit, following China.