First 7-ton shipment of green-skinned mangoes to Australia and the United States

On the morning of January 5, Cho Moi District People's Committee, in collaboration with An Giang province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vina T&T Trading and Distribution Company Limited, organized the launching ceremony for the first export shipment of green-skinned mangoes from Cho Moi district to Australia and the United States in Binh Phuoc Xuan commune.

This first export shipment of green-skinned mangoes was the result of a signed contract between the Cu Lao Gieng GAP Cooperative and Vina T&T Trading and Distribution Company Limited. According to the contract, 6 tons of green-skinned mangoes were assigned with a production unit code for export to Australia, and 1 ton of green-skinned mangoes were assigned with a production unit code for export to the United States.

According to Mr. Doan Thanh Loc, Vice Chairman of the Cho Moi District People's Committee, the district houses the largest mango production area in An Giang province, totalling nearly 6.5 thousand hectares. Notably, green-skinned mango production areas are primarily concentrated in Tan My, My Hiep, and Binh Phuoc Xuan communes, totalling approximately 4.2 thousand hectares. The cultivation of green-skinned mango trees first began in Cu Lao Gieng in 2001.

Under the enthusiastic guidance of Dr. Vo Mai, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Garden Association, 40 farmers from the three communes of Cu Lao Gieng successfully implemented the production of VietGAP-compliant mangoes in 2009.

By 2015, Binh Phuoc Xuan commune had 7.5 hectares of certified VietGAP-compliant green-skinned mango production area. Additionally, this area was also the first in An Giang province to receive a VietGAP certification.

Presently, the local 704-hectare VietGAP-compliant mango production area has been assigned 41 production unit codes for export to various markets around the world, including China, the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

According to Mr. Ton That Thinh, Deputy Director of the An Giang province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province has gained a reputation for its large rice production area and high rice yield in the Mekong Delta region. However, the total fruit tree production area in the province has reached 17.9 hectares within the last few years thanks to the successful implementation of crop restructuring. Most notably, the local mango production area has reached nearly 12,303 hectares, with 6.5 thousand hectares located in Cho Moi district, accounting for 52.07% of the total mango production area in the province.

"This export shipment is the result of the concerted efforts and collaboration among farmers, cooperatives, local governments, and businesses," affirmed Mr. Ton That Thinh.

Ms. Huynh Kim Dinh stated: "There are currently 20,500 agricultural cooperatives in operation nationwide. However, only more than 22% of them are able to effectively market agricultural products to their members. As a result, the roles of the Cu Lao Gieng GAP Cooperative and Vina T&T Trading and Distribution Company Limited in promoting the first shipment of green-skinned mangoes to Australia and the United States are indispensable."

Dong Thap province houses one of the largest mango production area in the Mekong Delta, with a focus on popular and high-quality mango varieties such as Cat Chu Cao Lanh, Cao Lanh, and Cat Hoa Loc. Local mango production is concentrated mainly in Cao Lanh City, and the districts of Cao Lanh, Lap Vo, and Thanh Binh. Dong Thap mangoes have been assigned with 252 production unit codes for export to China. The province has a total of 295 production unit codes for mangoes, which are distributed across 8,300 hectares of production area. Additionally, production unit codes for export to China accounts for the majority with 252 codes, covering an area of over 7,000 hectares.