Vietnam fruit and vegetable industry earned $388 million from exports in the first 11 months 2009, a 5.4 percent increase over the same period last year.

This is a positive sign. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the industry posted healthy growth despite the world recession.

Recently, Russia, China, Japan, Taiwan and the US have become key markets for the country’s fruit and vegetable industry. Of them, Russia is the biggest market with an import value of nearly $40 million followed by China with $35 million.

With these good signals, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association predicts that over the year, Vietnam will earn $420 million from exporting fruit and vegetables compared to $390 million in 2008.

A report from the ministry shows that Vietnam now has more than 680 hectares devoted to growing fruit and vegetable, providing a total yield of more than 7 million tonnes. In 2000, export turnover was only $213 million.

This number increased to $390 in 2008. Vietnamese fruit and vegetables exports include fresh or preserved potatoes, cucumbers, beans, onions, garlic, bananas, mango, litchi, longan, dragon fruit and coconut.