Pailin Looks to Put Longan Fruit on GI Map
Pailin’s juicy longans, a small beige-colored fruit renowned for its sweet taste, is on the way to becoming Cambodia’s third food product to attain Geographic Indicator (GI) status. The longan will join Cambodia’s only other GI-recognized food products: Kompong Speu palm sugar and Kampot pepper, which earned their status in 2010. Compared with other longans, Pailin longans are known for their meatiness and subtle sweet taste, said Soth Visal, chief of agricultural production in Pailin’s agriculture department. According to Mr. Visal, the Pailin longan will be GI ready next year. One hundred and five farmers established the Association for Agricultural Development of Pailin Longan six months ago, and are developing guidelines for growing the fruit. …
