The northern mountainous province of Son La said it has just exported 30 tonnes of locally-grown longans to China, one of its farm produce consumers, opening the door for this kind of fruit to penetrate the huge lucrative market.

The news was unveiled at a July 25 conference to promote the export of agricultural products from Song Ma district in Son La province.

Song Ma district is home to the largest longan growing area in Son La province, covering a total area of over 7,500 hectares. This year, the district has distributed over 80 tonnes of longans bearing Song Ma brand to cities and provinces across the country. 

Over the past few years Son La has strongly developed orchards, with several kinds of its fruit shipped abroad. The province has set a target of processing and exporting 75,000 tonnes of fresh fruits this year, including 8,500 tonnes to markets such as China, the United States, and Australia.

After successfully exporting mangoes to the UK and the UK this year, the province is set to ship red-flesh dragons to Japan, a very demanding market. 

Lo Minh Hung, vice chairman of Son La province’s administration, stated that the locality will continue to introduce longan products at fairs held throughout the country to popularize the fruit. It will also provide support for businesses in processing and preserving the product to meet the consumer taste. 

Despite the heavy impact of the novel coronavirus, the first six months of the year saw Son La actively boost domestic consumption and develop e-commerce platforms.