Thailand starts exporting pomelo to US in historic deal

July 11, 2023 | 14:36

(0) user say

The US has for the first time allowed Thailand to export its pomelo to the country, as Thailand eyes more markets for its delicious fruit.

Thailand starts exporting pomelo to US in historic deal, Illustrative image (Photo: PRD)

Bangkok - The US has for the first time allowed Thailand to export its pomelo to the country, as Thailand eyes more markets for its delicious fruit.

Thailand has shipped its first batch of pomelo to the US, following a new agreement allowing the export of four pomelo varieties from Thailand to the US market.

The first batch, which included Thong Dee, Khao Yai, Khao Namphueng, and Khao Tangkwa varieties, was featured at Sawasdee DC Thai Festival on July 2-4 in Washington DC, to celebrate the US Independence Day and the Thailand-US diplomatic relations. The fruit was shipped together with other Thai fruits such as mango and mangosteen, weighing 864 kilogrammes in total. This shipment was dispatched on June 26.

Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said caretaker Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha admired this success, which helps broaden international markets for Thai produce.

The US Department of Agriculture requires pomelo exported from Thailand to be treated with gamma irradiation at the dosage of 400 Gray for three hours. This process is performed at Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology. The exported fruits are also required to be sorted and processed at authorized facilities.

Thailand is currently allowed to export eight kinds of fruits to the US, namely mango, lychee, longan, pineapple, mangosteen, dragonfruit, rambutan, and pomelo. The Department of Agriculture currently has a guideline to help private firms reduce cost and increase the volume of each batch of export. If successful, this guideline could be a tool for businesses to apply commercially.

New e-commerce trend popular in Thailand

Shoppertainment, where content and commerce converge on a platform, has become the next era of online commerce, expected to be worth 1 trillion USD across Asia-Pacific by 2025, said Sirinit Virayasiri, head of business marketing for Thailand TikTok.