According to a representative of Thu Duc Wholesale Market, presently around 30 percent of the 17,000-18,000 tons of fruit that arrives every night, is imported.
Article continues below
Apples, pears, oranges, grapes, langsats, and mandarin oranges from Thailand, South Korea, the US, New Zealand, and South Africa currently have the upper hand in the imported fruit basket. The amount of Chinese apples and pears has reduced as consumers are no longer in favor of them.
As for local fruits, oranges, pomelos, dragon fruits, avocados, sour sops, watermelons, and mangos are in a majority.
The retail prices of local fruits have increased sharply over the same period last year, with an average raise of VND5,000-15,000 per kilogram. With an increase in prices, local fruits have narrowed the price gap with imported fruits. This benefits the fruit farmers but at the same time it sends local fruits into a cutthroat competition with foreign ones.
At supermarkets, more and more foreign fruits, including apples, pears, grapes and oranges are imported from several countries. In display, foreign fruits always look more eye-catching with various kinds of fruits in different sizes. The prices of foreign fruits are not so expensive, ranging from VND47,000-170,000 per kilogram.
As for luxurious fruits like cherries and strawberries imported from the U.S., with increasing import volume their prices have declined significantly compared to previous years.
The local-foreign fruit ratio is 50-50 at most markets, including Ben Thanh, An Dong, Vuon Chuoi, and Van Thanh. There are more fruit stores in the city where foreign fruits are mainly imported by air. These fruit stores also provide delivery service so they attract a large number of customers.
According to these stores, apples, pears, grapes, and cherries were bought most. Although the prices of foreign fruits are higher than that of local ones, foreign fruits are highly appreciated for their freshness and deliciousness. ■
A trailing cold front in connection with a low pressure system currently moving east across the Great Lakes toward New England will bring a chance of rain into the eastern U.S. on this first day of November following an exceptionally dry October for this part of the country.