Chinese golden plums, with their distinctive appearance and taste, are making an impact on Vietnam’s high-end fruit market, available at prices reaching VND500,000 (US$19.13) per kilogram. This variety, characterized by its size and golden-yellow hue, offers a mild sweetness and crisp texture, setting it apart from local Vietnamese plums and competing with premium fruits like seedless lychees and milk grapes.

In downtown Ho Chi Minh City, premium fruit stores report notable sales. Tuyet, a fruit store owner, noted over 200 kilograms of the plums sold within two weeks of her initial import. “Customers often return after their first try,” she mentioned. The demand is further driven by online vendors prioritizing this product.

Le Thoa, an importer, highlighted the plum’s attributes, stating, “It has golden flesh and is as crisp as a Vietnamese plum with a mild sweetness that is easy to enjoy without being overwhelming.” Presently, these plums are mainly brought in small batches since a formal trade agreement between China and Vietnam has yet to be established.

Wholesale rates are also elevated, with prices reaching VND300,000 per kilogram, according to Nguyen Lien, a trader in Lao Cai. This plum variety is cultivated extensively in regions like Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Miyun County, where thousands of hectares are dedicated to its production. The primary season spans late June to August.

Vietnamese customs data shows that imports from China accounted for $402 million in the first half of this year, 33.5% of the total import value for fruits and vegetables. China remains Vietnam’s leading fruit and vegetable supplier.

Source: VNExpress