HÀ NỘI — Intimex, a member of the BRG Group, has officially offered Japanese Aomori apples for sale in Việt Nam to meet demand for high quality apples from local consumers.

The fresh Aomori apples harvested in the 2016 season are imported directly from Aomori, Japan by Intimex Vietnam. The very first Aomori apple container reached Hải Phòng Port a week ago and has been sold at all Intimex stores, as well as at Big C and Unimart stores.

Speaking at the launch ceremony in Hà Nội on Sunday, Noriyuki Kasai, mayor of Japanese Hirosaki City said this was the first time these fresh and delicious apples had been imported directly from Japan for Vietnamese consumers following Việt Nam’s official approval in late 2015 to allow apple importation from Japan.

Aomori is the most famous apple growing region in Japan and supplies 50 per cent of all apples in Japan. The farmers in Aomori use meticulous techniques when raising apples, such as carefully wrapping apples whilst still on the tree, cutting off small flowers and fruits to keep nutrition for the large apples and using reflective panels to ensure the best colour of the apples.

The apples are selected through a strict process of measuring colour, size, sweetness, acidity and ripeness to evaluate and classify the apples. Soil, pesticide residues and even radioactivity analysis is researched carefully to ensure the top quality of each and every apple.

Nguyễn Thị Nga, BRG Group’s chairwoman and Intimex spent around two years working with the authorities of Aomori after having experience at Japanese King apple garden and Apple House.

The apples were among the first products that Intimex bought as part of its strategy to import high quality products from strict markets. The strategy aimed to help Intimex compete better domestically, Nga said.

She added that this fresh “apple-driven” direction for Intimex would help them compete in the retail market in a country that aims to have more and more good quality products for domestic consumers.

In addition, the group had been active in working with the Japanese partner to bring the breeds of Aomori apples to Việt Nam. Furthermore, in its co-operation plan with Sumitomo Group, BRG expected to develop hi-tech agricultural to better serve demand in both local and foreign markets. — VNS