Vietnam attends largest food, beverage fair in North America

Foreign partners visit Vietnam's booth - Source: VNA

Nine prestigious exporters bring to the Summer Fancy Food Show their outstanding products such as frozen and canned fruits and vegetables, coconut and coconut products, processed cashew nuts, pepper, instant noodle and vermicelli, and canned fruit juices.

Hoang Van Du, deputy director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the samples are still traditional exports but now they are organic, with quality improved and food safety ensured.

Vietnam’s attendance at the event aims to help the country’s businesses maintain partnership with US importers, develop new products for export, sign more export contracts and promote Vietnam’s cuisine, food and agricultural products, he said.

According to deputy director Du, in 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration started modernizing food safety regulations and the new mechanism requires strict control over products, from cultivation and husbandry to processing and export.

Therefore, he advised Vietnamese enterprises to tighten control over product quality and invite US experts to Vietnam for assessment at least once a year.

In addition, US customs offices have also tightened the accreditation of imports. In the past, only 2 percent of products were accredited but the rate has now exceeded 50 percent, even 100 percent for certain products such as catfish.

This year’s Summer Fancy Food Show attracts the participation of 2,650 businesses from 83 nations and territories showcasing their products in over 3,600 booths. The event draws the participation of over 50,000 visitors.

This is the third time Vietnam has attended the event, following its presence in 2006 and 2016.