Starting soon, Korean strawberries will be able to be enjoyed in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs announced on Jan. 19 that the quarantine agencies of Korea and Vietnam have concluded an agreement on food hygiene and reserve standards, allowing Korean strawberries to be exported to Vietnam starting Jan. 14.

As Vietnam will begin to issue import licenses on Feb. 1, Korean strawberries are expected to be on the shelves in Vietnam next month.



In order to export Korea-grown strawberries to Vietnam, documents showing a strawberry's export complex, farm export company and classification center must be registered with the quarantine agency.

Also, during the cultivation period, the strawberries must pass a pest inspection test set by the Vietnamese quarantine agency. Only those which are free of infection are allowed to be exported.

To increase exports, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs has been registering export complexes, farm export companies and classification centers with the quarantine agency since Jan. 11.

Demand for Korean strawberries grows every year, as Korea sold more than 3,315 tons of strawberries in 20 markets last year, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.



By Tae Sol
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Kim Yong-man, Hamyang-gun County
taesol@korea.kr