We need to "reawaken" the Pà Cò plum season.

According to estimates by Comrade Kha A Cha, a specialist in the Economic Department of the People's Committee of Pa Co commune, the entire commune (comprising the merged Hang Kia and Pa Co communes) currently has over 100 hectares of late-season plums in production. This is a highland specialty fruit that is loved by many tourists for its rich, sweet, crisp, and unforgettable flavor when in season.

Plums in Pà Cò are in their peak ripening season, boasting the distinctive sweetness of late-season plums grown interspersed with mountain rocks and unique agricultural crops such as ginseng and chayote.

Phàng A Páo, owner of A Páo Homestay, shared: "Not only is Pà Cò attractive because of its cool climate year-round, but it also captivates tourists with its sprawling plum orchards that stretch as far as the eye can see. In May and June, plums and peaches ripen simultaneously, creating a unique charm for this area. However, because community tourism is still in its early stages of development, the number of visitors coming to Pà Cò during the plum season is still limited."

The lush, fruit-laden plum orchards of Pà Cò not only bring economic value to the Hmong people but also provide the conditions for developing community tourism.

Leading us on a tour of the plum orchards, Mr. Sung A Pha, head of the Pa Hang Lon area, said: Currently, the wholesale price of plums fluctuates around 10,000 VND/kg, while the retail price ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 VND/kg. However, sales remain difficult due to heavy reliance on traders, while retail purchasing power is limited.

The Pà Cò plum variety has large fruits, a rich, sweet taste, and a distinctive flavor characteristic of the semi-mountainous rocky region. This is a great advantage for the locality to build and develop the Pà Cò plum brand, linking it with plum harvest festivals, fruit-picking experiences, and the exploration of the pristine indigenous culture of the Hmong people, thereby attracting tourists to the Pà Cò highlands.

Besides plums, in Pà Cò, the Hmong people also grow peaches, ginger, ginseng, chayote, etc., on most of the rocky land to increase the value of the land and increase income from vegetables and fruits.

However, according to Mr. Sung A Pha, although the area planted with Pà Cò plums is large and production is gradually increasing, finding markets remains a challenge for local households during the harvest season. In Pà Cò, besides wholesale and retail sales, there are no facilities for deep processing, so the plums are still in a situation of "bumper harvest, low prices" and sometimes even wasted due to slow harvesting and price drops...

The houses of the Hmong people, nestled amidst plum orchards laden with fruit, are a popular destination for tourists seeking an experience and an escape from the heat during the sweltering May days.

Besides considering further processing of plums such as making wine and canned beverages, the local people also hope that plums and peaches in the area will receive strong support in promoting community tourism so that the plums can have a brand name, attract tourists, and increase their value - Mr. Sung A Pha, head of Pa Hang Lon area, further emphasized the promotion of the Pa Co plum brand in the future with the aspiration to elevate the value of agricultural products of his homeland.

Tourists visiting plum orchards, picking their own fruit, and experiencing the plum season in Pà Cò is also a current trend in community tourism. The long-term goal is to establish a brand for Pà Cò plums, along with long-term solutions for deep processing and investment in well-structured, scientific community tourism activities to gradually attract tourists.

According to Mr. Sung A Pha, Head of Pa Hang Lon area, many individuals in Pa Co have invested in developing community-based tourism associated with relaxation, experiencing local culture, and cloud hunting in Hang Kia. However, characteristic agricultural products such as plums, peaches, and many other local produce have not yet been effectively utilized in tours and routes to promote, introduce, and attract tourists. This is also one of the limitations that prevents the effectiveness of community-based tourism development and the promotion of the Pa Co tourism brand, especially the plum brand, from reaching its full potential.

“We hope to receive more support in terms of funding, media, and systematic tourism practices so that locals and tourists can work together to promote tourism in Pà Cò, especially the local specialty plums. Only then will Pà Cò plums truly be elevated in value and brand, bringing sustainable income to the people,” Mr. Sùng A Pha expressed.

National Assembly

Source: https://baophutho.vn/can-danh-thuc-mua-man-pa-co-254796.htm