Export enterprises of dragon fruit in Tây Ninh province (mainly located in what was previously Long An province) are upgrading warehouse systems, storage facilities, and processing lines to meet increasingly stringent standards imposed by international markets.

Export pressure from high-standard markets

At present, not only traditional markets such as China but also demanding markets such as Europe and the United States are tightening controls on chemical residues and food safety for Vietnamese dragon fruit.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnamese dragon fruit is currently subject to enhanced control under Appendix II of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, with an inspection frequency of 30% for shipments entering the EU market.

As a result, in Tây Ninh province, Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Trịnh, Chairman of the Tây Ninh Dragon Fruit Association, stated that many export units are urgently completing documentation and upgrading warehouse infrastructure to obtain international certifications such as ISO, HACCP, as well as fire safety standards to ensure smooth export processes.

Enterprises proactively invest in export infrastructure

Amid increasingly stringent market requirements, many local warehouses have proactively submitted applications for upgrades and technical support.

Mr. Nguyễn Vạn Thành, Director of Vạn Thành Cooperative in Tây Ninh province (formerly part of Long An), shared that his unit has applied for support to upgrade its warehouse and install a vapor heat treatment (VHT) system to serve dragon fruit exports.

Although waiting for policy support from authorities can take time, enterprises acknowledge that they must primarily rely on their own initiatives.

Warehouse upgrades are not merely about improving physical infrastructure but also reflect a shift in production mindset: from fragmented procurement to strict control across the entire value chain, from cultivation area codes to packaging processes.

Only when infrastructure meets required standards can dragon fruit pass stringent inspection barriers and reach international consumers in a safe and sustainable manner.

According to the Tây Ninh Dragon Fruit Association, the province currently has around 100 dragon fruit warehouses of various sizes, but only about 30% meet export standards, with the remainder undergoing upgrades to comply with export requirements.

Source: Bao dien tu Dan Viet