Low prices make Thai persimmons popular
Crunchy persimmons imported from Thailand sell for VND35,000 (US$1.5) per kilogram at wholesale markets in HCMC, VND5,000-10,000 lower than the Vietnamese variety.
My Linh, the owner of a fruit stall in Go Vap District, said she had sold out 100 kilograms of Thai persimmons in two days.”It was very cheap, so I switched to selling Thai persimmons instead of the Vietnamese variety.”
According to Thanh, the owner of a fruit stall at Ba Chieu market in Binh Thanh District, Thai persimmons are eye-catchingly yellow and sweet, and so attracts customers.
“Every day, I sell three to five boxes (of 10 kg). Its retail price is VND55,000-60,000 per kilogram, while that of Da Lat persimmon is VND70,000-80,000.”
A shop owner named Mai in Tan Binh District, who sells several tons of Thai persimmons a day, said due to higher harvests this year the fruit was exported to Vietnam at low prices.
“I am selling three varieties of persimmons to markets: from Thailand, China and Da Lat. Currently the Thai fruit has the lowest price, with color and uniformity (in terms of size and quality) better than the other two.”
A manager of the Thu Duc Agricultural Product Wholesale Market said Thai persimmons are being sold in the market for the first time, and are popular thanks to their low price.