FRESNO, CA - A monumental trade decision occurred earlier this week. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Vietnam has granted market access for California peaches and nectarines effective immediately.

“The California stonefruit industry identified Vietnam as a strategic export market because Vietnamese consumers value high quality and sweet fruit. Naturally, the varieties California growers have invested in over the years will be popular there. Access to this market is something our industry has been working toward for a significant amount of time, so we are looking forward to introducing the best stonefruit in the world to a new group of consumers,” remarked Caroline Stringer, California Fresh Fruit Association’s (CFFA) Director of Trade.

According to a press release, eliminating the phytosanitary barriers keeping California peaches and nectarines out of the Vietnamese market required multiple rounds of technical negotiations that took place over the course of several years.

CFFA would like to extend its appreciation to the following for their invaluable contributions to this process: USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Agricultural Research Service’s negotiators and experts, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Fresno County and Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner offices.

“This market access is a big win for California’s nectarine and peach producers,” said USDA’s Jenny Lester Moffitt, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “Our APHIS trade team members have worked diligently to make this opened market a reality for Vietnam’s citizens. We are thrilled they will now have access to the fine peach and nectarine fruit that California produces.”

As always, ANUK will be here to report the latest with regard to import and export updates.