For Vietnamese fruit farmers, this represents many new opportunities as well as challenges, particularly in customer retention.
Here, Vietnamese dragon fruits are sold at 598 Yen, or 5 USD, each. This brings a much greater profit than when they are sold in Vietnam. The price is still considered low in Japan; nevertheless, low prices are not the only thing needed to remain competitive in the Japanese market.
The negotiation process to bring Vietnamese dragon fruits into Japan lasted 8 years. 6 years later, Vietnamese mangoes were also accepted, following the country’s success in curing the fruit of a fatal disease using steam technology. This was a milestone for Vietnamese fruit processing technology.
Japan’s strict standards could prove to be a great test for Vietnamese fruit production. Having successfully entered this difficult market, Vietnamese fruit farmers can now extend their vision to other big markets, such as Europe and the US.
