Binh Thuan’s dragon fruit export harvested USD 5.2 million in the first 4 months of 2013

The average export unit price of dragon fruit in the first four months of 2013 gained USD 707.41 per ton, increasing by 26 percent compared to USD 561.28 per ton of the same period last year. However, there was a fall of unit price for dragon fruit exported to Thailand (equivalent to 61.19 percent of the price in corresponding period of 2012). In comparison with the same period of 2012, dragon fruit export had a decrease of 31.13 percent in quantity and 13.18 percent in value. Of which, dragon fruit export volume to China reduced by 37percent in quantity and 21 percent in value; dragon fruit export to Indonesia droped 35.8 percent in quantity but raised by 2,4 percent in value; dragon fruit entering Thai markets surged 3.5 times in quantity and 2.2 times in value; dragon fruit export to Singapore had a decrease of 48.6 percent in quantity and a slight drop of 1 percent in value; dragon fruit export to UAE witnessed a slight fall of 19.3 percent in quantity and a huge increase of 62.3 percent in value.

A source of news reveals that, Chinese government is deploying a new policy to encourage and support its farmers in cultivating dragon fruit trees in large area in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. It is forecasted that in the following years, dragon fruit yield in China will meet domestic demands and possibly export to other countries. Besides some Asian countries and territories such as: China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, dragon fruit tree is being developed in the US.

Food safety key to EU market

Speaking at a workshop yesterday on the export of fruits and vegetable to the EU, Bieu said that the EU had tightened regulations on quality, posing a challenge to Vietnamese producers.

In early 2012, five types of produce, including basil, sweet pepper, celery, bitter gourd and coriander failed to meet the EU food hygiene and safety regulations. The EU subsequently announced they would halt the import of Vietnamese produce if five more batches of exports were found to be violating regulations.

In an effort to prevent a complete ban on Vietnamese vegetable and fruits, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development temporarily suspended issuing quarantine certificates in March 2012 to prevent other fruit being added to the EU’s blacklist.

Bieu noted that as of June 30 2013, local exporters could resume shipment of Vietnamese produce to the EU because the department had begun granting quarantine certificates.

To regain the confidence of EU consumers, Vietnamese processors and exporters needed to improve quality and environmental management systems, Bieu said.

He also urged Vietnamese enterprises to study changes in EU food safety standards so that they could tailor their processing work accordingly.

Nguyen Thi Tan Loc, from the Fruits and Vegetable Research Institute, said that organic products grown in a sustainable way and labelled as fair trade could enter EU market easily.

Viet Nam currently suffers from a shortage of arable farm land and few producers are applying Good Agriculture Practice standards, she said, adding that a shortage of market information was a disadvantage for Vietnamese enterprises.

Right packaging for fruit export

South Africa – Exchange rate volatility, rising energy, transport and labour costs, unseasonal weather and disease – these are just some of the risks beyond the control ofSouth Africa’s fruit exporters. However, getting packaging right is a key decision that can be controlled and is a factor that can make the difference between success and failure.

According to the Citrus Growers Association, 70% of citrus grown in South Africais exported. In 2011, South Africa ranked as the world’s third largest exporter of fresh citrus fruit by volume behind Spain and Turkey, and is ranked 13^th in the world in terms of citrus production.

Given the complexities of the global fruit supply chain, packaging has had to evolve from the simple wooden boxes that were traditionally used to transport produce. Today’s packaging companies have to supply fruit farmers with high-quality products that can be customised for individual needs and support growing branding opportunities, while withstanding the rigours of the export process.

The consequence of poor packaging is particularly manifested in less-developed countries where it’s estimated that up to 40% of all post-harvest produce is lost. “There are a multitude of factors to consider when packing for the fruit industry. Good quality corrugated boxes are of utmost importance”, comments Ralph von Veh, MD of Mpact Corrugated, a division of Mpact, one of southern Africa’s leading paper and plastics packaging group. “Packaging failures can result in a huge cost to the farmer and possibly damage a key sector of the economy. Well-packaged, well presented fruit will always command a premium price”, he adds.

For more than a century, Mpact has been producing quality corrugated packaging and is the major supplier to a fruit industry that exports to destinations as far afield as the Far East and theUS. “We have invested significant resources in technology, plants, people and infrastructure in order to produce lighter, stronger, more innovative packaging which is not only better for handling purposes and driving efficiencies for the farmer, but also allows us to contain cost increases, ensuring we are constantly competitive”, claims Ralph von Veh.

Packaging needs to have vertical strength when stacked for export to withstand up to 1,500kg on the bottom layer. Corrugated-based export packaging also needs to cope with up to six weeks under refrigeration.

Not only is turnaround time important, but fruit can vary in size by up to 20% and farmers can also have up to five or six export ranges which require different carton sizes and brands.

Additionally, packaging has become an integral part of brand building, not merely an interim transport mechanism and Mpact has invested in presses capable of printing in up to six colours, giving the company a leading position in high-graphic printing on corrugated boxes.

Contributed by Gill Loubser

Editor´s note: It´s worth to remind that Mpact cartons and designs are also exported to countries such as India and Brazil, which then package their fruit for export to Europe.

Panama starts exporting square watermelons

ANTON, PANAMA - A company in Panama is hoping to join in a small niche market of the fruit export business: square watermelons. The Panama Fruit Producer company has started "rounding up" the square fruit, sending its first shipment of 120 boxy melons to New York. The company expects to produce about 3,000 of the molded melons this year, and will send them to the Netherlands and Germany as well. Operations manager Gerardo Diaz said Wednesday that people are surprised at first because "it is not what they were expecting." "Later they ask if it is a genetic experiment," he said.

Diaz said the watermelons are natural. They are made to grow inside cube-shaped glass boxes and conform to the mold as they get bigger. The first melons cost about $75 apiece, but producers hope to bring the price down. The first square watermelons are thought to have been produced by a Japanese farmer and have been sold in some markets in Japan for years. Diaz said the only square watermelon production in the Americas he knows about is in Brazil and California in the U.S.

Tips to help you eat whole grains

• At meals:

  • To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product – such as eating whole-wheat bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice. It’s important to substitute the whole-grain product for the refined one, rather than adding the whole-grain product.
  • For a change, try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. Try brown rice stuffing in baked green peppers or tomatoes and whole-wheat macaroni in macaroni and cheese.
  • Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soup or stews and bulgur wheat in casserole or stir-fries.
  • Create a whole grain pilaf with a mixture of barley, wild rice, brown rice, broth and spices. For a special touch, stir in toasted nuts or chopped dried fruit.
  • Experiment by substituting whole wheat or oat flour for up to half of the flour in pancake, waffle, muffin or other flour-based recipes. They may need a bit more leavening.
  • Use whole-grain bread or cracker crumbs in meatloaf.
  • Try rolled oats or a crushed, unsweetened whole grain cereal as breading for baked chicken, fish, veal cutlets, or eggplant parmesan.
  • Try an unsweetened, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal as croutons in salad or in place of crackers with soup.
  • Freeze leftover cooked brown rice, bulgur, or barley. Heat and serve it later as a quick side dish.