Passion fruit finally approved for the US—2026 becomes the first year of exports

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has completed the technical procedures toward opening its market to Vietnamese fresh passion fruit, and 2026 is set to be the inaugural year of exports to the US. On March 25, 2026, Vietnamese Deputy Minister Hoang Trung met a USDA delegation led by Luke J. Lindberg, and the US side confirmed completion of the technical evaluation of fresh passion fruit. A plan to have irradiation- and vapor-heat-treatment facilities approved in time for the 2026 harvest season was also indicated. Export value is projected on the scale of US$50 million to 100 million.

Technical evaluation completed at the March ministerial meeting

At the March 25, 2026 meeting, USDA confirmed that the technical evaluation of Vietnamese fresh passion fruit was complete. The Vietnamese side sought early approval of irradiation facilities and vapor heat treatment (VHT), and USDA said it would advance the procedures in time for the 2026 harvest season. With this, the long-negotiated opening of the US market has entered a stage of moving to actual exports.

Export scale and production base — data table

Note: yen conversions are reference values calculated at about ¥155 to the US dollar.

Strict quarantine and residue standards are a prerequisite

For exports to the US, Vietnamese exporters must meet the US's strict standards on food safety and plant quarantine. Absence of pesticide residue, bacteria, and microbial infection is required, and facility approval for quarantine treatments such as irradiation and vapor heat treatment holds the key to realizing the opening. Building the systems to clear the standards will sway export volume.

Comparative analysis with global export competitors

Vietnam ranks among the world's top 10 passion fruit exporters and competes with South American players such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. As of early 2025, the cultivation area is about 12,500 ha and the average yield 35 to 45 tonnes/ha, so the production base is coming into shape. With the US market added, the diversification of a Europe-skewed set of destinations advances.

Implications for Japanese buyers and distributors

If Vietnamese passion fruit builds the systems to clear US standards, supply to the Japanese market, which demands quality and quarantine levels on par with the US, also comes into range. Growing regions equipped for irradiation and vapor heat treatment become trading candidates across developed markets with strict residue standards. The inaugural year's US track record will function as a reliability indicator for selecting growing regions.

Summary

The opening of the US market to passion fruit becomes a turning point for Vietnamese fruit to diversify away from dependence on Europe. Because quarantine-facility approval and standards compliance are prerequisites, the gap between regions that can respond and those that cannot will widen. The 2026 US export record will be the foundation for future market expansion.

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Source

• FreshPlaza「Vietnam passion fruit gains access to U.S. market in 2026」
• Vietnam News「Viet Nam’s passion fruit targets US market breakthrough」