Cambodian Coconuts and Venezuelan Avocados Secure China Market Access

According to a notice from the General Administration of Customs of China, fresh coconuts from Cambodia and fresh avocados from Venezuela are now permitted to be imported into China. The GACC’s statement came after visits of Cambodian and Venezuelan leaders to China earlier in September.

Cambodian Coconuts

The protocol on the phytosanitary requirements for Cambodian coconuts was signed between Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the GACC on Sept. 15.

According to the MAFF, owners of coconut plantations, processing plants and packhouses who intend to export to China are now being required to register their orchards and facilities.

Rachana Im, undersecretary of state and MAFF spokesperson, noted that the ministry would provide farmers with the necessary guidance to ensure compliance with the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements stipulated by Chinese authorities.

The list of plantations, along with processing and packing facilities, will be presented to Chinese officials for evaluation in early December, according to Im.

Cambodia has 17,000 hectares of coconut trees, 14,000 hectares of which are ready for harvest. The main producing area spans the country’s southern coastal provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Speu and Kampot. In 2022, Cambodia’s coconut output totaled 248,000 metric tons.

Venezuelan Avocados

With an annual yield of roughly 130,000 metric tons, Venezuela ranks as the world’s 15th-largest avocado producer. A total of 6,000 hectares of harvested land are located in the country’s western states of Yaracuy, Mérida, Trujillo and Zulia, with Yaracuy leading production.

Venezuela’s best-suited varieties for export are Choquette and Pollock. Although their oil content is lower than that of the Hass cultivar, the fruit is known to have a creamy texture and a nutty flavor. Furthermore, Choquette avocados are significantly larger than Hass avocados, weighing up to one kilogram — three times the weight of a typical Hass avocado. According to one industry expert, Venezuelan avocados destined for export go through a rigorous screening procedure because only those weighing at least 450 grams and showing no defects qualify for shipment. The choice of cultivar is normally determined by the delivery window to a certain country and the ripening time of the fruit.

The avocado season in Venezuela starts in early April and lasts until early January.

Images: Pixabay