50 APRIL-MAY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Thị Hương and Phạm Thanh Phương. Local staff played an especially critical role in making Aug. 14 happen; through their work, we identified the Vietnamese importer, someone willing to be the first to take a chance, Klever Fruits. Klever was the first to import California peaches and nectarines on that beautifully warm and pleasant day when Vietnam welcomed the initial shipment. Brooke and Hương met the shipment at the airport and worked with Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department (PPD) to inspect and clear the fruit for celebrations across the city. Brooke participated in celebrating the first shipment with Klever Fruit and even shared her grandmother’s peach cobbler recipe with the company. Next was a fruit tasting event and a very symbolic welcome of a wrapped present of this “California Gold.” The containers arrived with a big red ribbon, a gift to the people of Vietnam. The event was perfectly planned, and the tasting was delicious, as expected. After the tasting event, a very elegant evening event got quickly underway. Hosted by Klever Fruit, the event unveiled California peaches and nectarines to the Vietnamese consumer. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper gave opening remarks, interviews, and overall support of the new market access. He expressed his appreciation to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and encouraged the advancement of trade opportunities for both countries. I was honored to give opening remarks as well, highlighting the teamwork between APHIS and Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department. At the end, Caroline Stringer, director of trade for the California Fresh Fruit Association, gifted peaches and nectarines to all dignitaries. The event concluded with dinner, pictures, and, of course, a lot of peaches and nectarines. When all was done, I thanked the amazing APHIS staff in Hanoi, rushed back along the same path the peaches and nectarines had just taken to gather my family in Bangkok, and headed home to the Golden State. A Long Journey After picking up the rental car and heading down State Route 99 toward Sacramento, as we have dozens of times to visit family, I was thrilled to pass a small green sign installed along the roadside to celebrate Sacramento’s Vietnamese community. In 2010 the City Council designated a two-mile section of Stockton Boulevard as “Little Saigon.” It’s a vibrant, lively neighborhood with dozens of Vietnamese restaurants, coffee shops, jewelry stores, bakeries, and markets. This neighborhood is a remembrance of the shared Vietnamese and American history, a history of both war and friendship, creating a lasting legacy that continues to heal and evolve. The evolution of U.S.-Vietnam relations from the fall of Saigon to the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and beyond is a testament to the power of diplomacy and cooperation. APHIS International Services has played a crucial role in this journey, demonstrating the importance of dedicated and skilled diplomats in identifying and achieving opportunities and progress. Klever Fruit, the Vietnamese importer, uses the Golden Gate Bridge in their promotional campaign for California peaches and nectarines. Across Asia, the bridge—whose name, “Golden Gate,” referred historically to the entrance of trade into the U.S. from the Pacific Rim—is often seen as a symbol of American innovation and progress. The gateway between the Americas and the East, it represents the potential for global exchange and deepening connection across the Pacific. n The APHIS Team and California Fresh Fruit Association enjoy the fruits of their labor in August 2024. From left: Phạm Thanh Phương, Brooke Rockentine, Caroline Stringer (CFFA), Marc Gilkey, Đỗ Hữu Dũng, and Nguyễn Thị Hương. Market access for fruits from the U.S. to Vietnam and vice versa supports producers and consumers of both countries. KLEVER FRUIT
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