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Fruit market ruled by China, supermarkets
Farmers complain that consumers seek imported fruits and that they also cannot “access” supermarkets because of strict barriers. Instead, China boasts high fruit sales and profits, leaving Vietnamese fruits in the dust.
Statistics show that China is still leading in farm produce exports to Vietnam with an export revenue of $17.01 million in August 2009, an increase of $10 million over April.
Previously, foreign-sourced fruits appeared only at supermarkets and big shops, but now they are available at every fruit stall and traditional markets.
100 percent of foreign fruits at markets sourced from China Inexpensive imitations
Small merchants have reported that there are many kinds of imported fruits. China’s green grapes, which look like Vietnam’s Binh Thuan grapes, are priced at 16,000-22,000 dong per kilo and are selling very well.
A merchant at Tan Dinh Market added that China also produces black grapes, which sell for 45,000 dong per kilo, that resemble US grapes.
Vietnamese consumers also mistake China’s persimmon for Vietnam’s, she noted. China’s persimmon is bigger than Vietnam’s and sells very well at 11,000-12,000 dong per kilo. Many people think that this fruit, available at most supermarkets, is a product of Dalat.
Nguyen Thanh Ha, Deputy Director of Tam Binh Wholesale Market in HCM City, explained that it is now the persimmon season in China, therefore, a large amount has been imported and sells much better than Vietnam’s persimmons.
Ha said that some 2,700 tons of fruit are brought to the market every day, of which 20 percent are from China.
Farmers knock on supermarket doors
Supermarkets in Vietnam now sell 15-20 kinds of fruits, with Metro leading in fruit diversification. Besides familiar fruits, many new products have appeared like mulberries, kiwis and cherries.
Vietnamese fruits, however, still cannot find their way into the supermarkets.
Lo Ren Vinh Kim star apples, a well-known brand name with a certificate on food hygiene, are still sold through merchants. Company Chairman Nguyen Van Ngan reported that he tried to contact supermarkets many times, but his apples are still not found in the produce sections.
Other fruit producers complained that supermarkets have set up strict requirements on the quality of fruits, and yet they do not offer fair prices.
Than Van Tanh, Deputy Chairman of Chau Nghe Mango Cooperative, revealed that he only sells a small amount to supermarkets. He can only “introduce” the mangos at supermarkets because the company receives prices that are even lower than those at outdoor markets.
Producers and supermarkets also cannot agree on payment methods. Supermarkets pay once every 10 days via bank accounts. The Chairman of Tan Phong Rambutan Cooperative observed, however, that their company must pay cash on delivery to farmers. He complained that he has not gotten used to the bank payments and he also does not want to wait 10 days to be compensated.
Currently, all fruits available at Co-op Mart are those with well-known brand names, including Hoa Loc mangos, Tan Trieu pomelos and Nam Roi pomelos.
Deputy Director of Saigon Co-op Bui Hanh Thu said that their customers choose only well-established products. Fruits without a good brand name will not find a space in supermarkets, even if they are of high quality.
vietnamnet, tt
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