The Toan Phat Irradiation (TPI) fruit processing facility has officially made history as the first entity in Vietnam to receive approval from the United States' Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to operate two technologies simultaneously for the quarantine treatment of fresh fruit. Previously, the facility relied solely on Cobalt-60-based gamma irradiation, but it has now expanded its operations with X-ray technology.
This strategic move comes amid a surge in Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export performance, which is projected to surpass USD 8.5 billion by 2025. Specifically for the United States market, the export value is estimated to reach USD 547 million, skyrocketing by more than 50% compared to the previous year. This capacity increase is crucial given the high volume of seasonal demand for products such as mangoes, dragon fruits, lychees, and pomelos, which require strict phytosanitary procedures before entering the US market.
The addition of X-ray technology is predicted to double TPI's daily processing capacity. This provides significant operational flexibility for exporters, especially in reducing long queues during peak harvest seasons. With two treatment methods available, the risk of shipping schedule disruptions due to bottlenecks at quarantine facilities can be minimized, while also reducing logistics and warehousing costs, which have been major challenges for post-harvest businesses.
Nonetheless, the management emphasized that the transition to using the technology must still adhere to strict regulations. Every processed product is required to comply with radiation dosage standards, control procedures, and data traceability required by APHIS and the Vietnamese plant quarantine authority. Compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) is key to maintaining market trust while ensuring the quality of Vietnamese fruit remains competitive in the international arena.
