The Thai processed fruit export market is taking a big step forward. To increase the potential of export products, the Thai government is providing support to farmers and helping them improve their sales opportunities in the global market.
In Thailand, agriculture is a major contributor to the country’s economic growth. Since produce remains the main source of income for the kingdom and its producers, improving agriculture is a key task for the government.
While Thailand is known for its natural products and gastronomy, fruits are one of the most sold products along with crops such as Hom Mali or Thai jasmine rice, consumed worldwide.
However, fresh produce harvested from farms can spoil or be damaged during the long-distance journey. To address this problem, the government is educating local entrepreneurs about product preservation and the need to use modern packaging that extends the shelf life of harvested products.
Among the most successful products are the processed bananas known as Chip and Chill, from the company Pimporn. The company uses local bananas from Sukhothai province as the main ingredient and then processes them into chips with various flavors, such as butter and tom yam Kung. The producer can produce more than 3,000 kilograms daily and, the brand owner aims to sell the product in other countries. In China, Chip and Chill brand products are now sold in many supermarkets.
To increase the awareness of Thai products in the international market, the trade negotiation department encourages local SMEs to take advantage of existing free trade agreements. The department also advises local farmers on how to improve their products and helps them standardize their products to meet international standards.
