PRESS RELEASE

United States Government Supports Ham Minh Dragon Fruit Cooperative Gain EurepGAP Certification

November 9, 2006

On November 10, 2006, the Ham Minh Dragon Fruit Cooperative will formally receive its EurepGAP certification at a 10:00 am awards ceremony.  United States Consul General Seth Winnick will participate, along with representatives from the People’s Committee, local government agencies, industry participants, and the media.  This certification – a voluntary standard - is a first for participants in the dragon fruit industry in Vietnam, and will help the Cooperative’s farmer members access high value markets in Europe and beyond.  The Ham Minh Cooperative takes it name after the village of the eleven farmer members in Binh Thuan Province.

“Dragon fruit is a unique, healthy and delicious product yet it is virtually unknown in Europe or the United States. Since EurepGAP is an internationally recognized standard, this certification will be an entry ticket for Vietnam’s dragon fruit growers into new, high-value markets,” said Consul General Winnick.  

The EurepGAP certification of the Cooperative marks the culmination of extensive American support to the dragon fruit industry in Vietnam. In 2004, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) and RAISE/SPS project, together with HortResearch (AusAid) and SOFRI, formed the Dragon Fruit GAP Project. VNCI focused on raising awareness of the importance of GAP and EurepGAP, supporting the pilot farmers’ cooperative to be EurepGAP certified, and identifying market access opportunities for dragon fruit, in particular for the pilot cooperative. 

VNCI’s support to the Cooperative – as well as the Cooperative’s own investment – has had real results: The Cooperative recently completed a demonstration sale to EU Metro of one-half ton of dragon fruit destined for select Metro stores in Germany, with another sale expected this fall.