In the banana-growing areas of Suoi Cat and Suoi Hiep communes ( Khanh Hoa province ), bunches of green bananas are harvested early, packaged, and shipped to provinces in Central and Northern Vietnam. In Khanh Vinh, green pomelos are also in their peak season. Purchasing facilities are increasing production, preparing tens of thousands of boxes of pomelos to serve the Tet market both within and outside the province.
At the Tan Xuong intersection in Suoi Cat commune, the Tet banana market only operates for a few days, from the 23rd to the 26th or 27th of the 12th lunar month, but the volume of bananas sold reaches hundreds of tons. The sellers are the orchard owners. They transport bananas from their fields to sell to traders and banana wholesalers. Traders come to inspect the goods, negotiate prices, and mark the bunch stems directly. Transactions take place quickly.
According to orchard owners, bananas for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) are cared for from the beginning of the year. When the trees flower, growers must cut the flower stalks at the right time to concentrate nutrients on the fruit. Standard bananas should have round, evenly shaped fruits, fresh stems, and the characteristic white bloom. A beautiful bunch usually has 7 to 10 hands. Prices range from 500,000 to 1 million VND per bunch depending on quality. Each hand costs from 60,000 to 150,000 VND.
Mr. Nam Danh (from Suoi Hiep commune) said that this year's floods reduced the yield due to some areas being submerged. However, the bananas grown on higher hills still maintained their quality. "The bananas have to be harvested while still green to ensure they can be transported over long distances. They only ripen to a beautiful golden yellow by the first or second day of Tet," Mr. Danh shared.
At the purchasing depots, workers are constantly busy. Banana bunches are wrapped in multiple layers of green banana leaves, then covered with additional packaging to prevent scratches. Each day, some depots purchase 100-200 bunches, loading them onto trucks for shipment to provinces such as Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai , Hue, Quang Binh, and some northern provinces.
According to traders, bananas from Khanh Hoa are favored by the market due to their attractive appearance and consistent quality. When ripe, the fruit is uniformly yellow, with minimal darkening of the peel, and has a sweet, refreshing taste. Demand increases sharply from the 24th to the 26th of the twelfth lunar month. This is also the time that determines prices.
Besides bananas, many other agricultural products from Khanh Hoa are also in season for Tet. Farmers growing green pomelos, mangoes, and dragon fruit are intensifying their care and packaging efforts to meet orders. Purchasing and transportation activities are bustling, creating seasonal jobs for local workers and increasing people's income at the end of the year.
In the bustling atmosphere leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), bunches of green bananas are unloaded from the orchards and transported by truck to various provinces and cities. On the traditional five-fruit platter for the Spring Festival, a full bunch of bananas not only symbolizes family reunion but also represents the hard work of the farmers of Khanh Hoa after a year of toil.
Besides bananas, the green-skinned pomelo market in Khanh Hoa is equally vibrant this year. In Khanh Vinh commune, the Ngan Nguyen facility is busy purchasing and packaging pomelos for Tet (Lunar New Year).
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan, Director of Ngan Nguyen Fruit and Agricultural Products Import-Export Co., Ltd., said that this year the company expects to supply approximately 20,000 boxes of pomelos to customers inside and outside the province. This number is double that of previous years, when the production was only about 10,000 boxes.
According to Ms. Ngan, more than 20 days before Tet (Lunar New Year), the facility went to the orchards to select fruits that met the standards in terms of weight, appearance, and color. On average, each box of pomelos weighs about 10 kg, and the selling price ranges from 350,000 to 470,000 VND per box, depending on the type.
In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), workers toil continuously to pack, print designs, and arrange transportation. Many products are designed with themes such as "Prosperity and Good Fortune," "May All Your Wishes Come True," and "Happy New Year." The boxes of pomelos are carefully preserved before being shipped throughout the country.
Ngan Nguyen's green-skinned pomelo product was awarded a 3-star OCOP certification in 2023. This provides a foundation for expanding the market and enhancing the value of local agricultural products.
According to orchard owners in Khanh Vinh, despite unfavorable weather conditions at times this year, increased care and the application of advanced techniques have resulted in satisfactory yields and quality. Pomelo prices may fluctuate slightly depending on weight and appearance, but generally remain at a reasonable level to ensure sufficient demand during the Tet holiday.
Along with Suoi Cat bananas, Khanh Vinh green-skinned pomelos are contributing to a vibrant picture of agricultural products during Tet (Lunar New Year). Bunches of bananas and crates of pomelos are being transported to various provinces, carrying with them the flavors and hopes for a prosperous and joyful new year.
In Dong Nai , the atmosphere in the banana leaf gardens of An Loc ward is becoming increasingly bustling. For farmers, this is a "golden" time when the market is strong, providing a stable livelihood and increased income to prepare for a more prosperous Tet holiday.
The family of Ms. Tran Thi Nhan, residing in Thanh Thinh hamlet, is one of the households with over 30 years of experience in this craft. On average, Ms. Nhan's garden supplies the market with 15,000-20,000 leaves per day. However, during peak days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), this number increases many times over to meet the demand for wrapping banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) from people everywhere. Ms. Tran Thi Nhan shared, "Normally, my family's garden only supplies about 15,000-20,000 leaves, but during Tet, it has to reach 70,000-80,000 leaves per day. We have to mobilize 15-18 workers to work continuously from 6 am to 6 pm, only resting for a few minutes at noon to meet delivery deadlines."
Also in An Loc ward, not only large orchards but even households with small farming areas of a few acres are busy harvesting dong leaves. A typical example is the family of Ms. Le Thi Ha in Thanh Thuy neighborhood, with over 0.3 hectares of dong leaves currently being harvested. This intercropping model with cashew trees has created a stable source of income, especially during the Lunar New Year season.
Ms. Le Thi Ha excitedly shared that in recent years, income from selling banana leaves has been significantly higher than in previous years. Here, very few households cultivate and rely on this crop. Especially during the end of the year, customers place large orders, so we harvest in bulk, significantly increasing production. On regular days, our regular customers consistently order at least 20,000 leaves per batch. During the peak Tet holiday season, individual customers from all over flock to the garden, some buying 50,000, others 10,000 leaves, creating a lively atmosphere.
Currently, in An Loc ward, nearly 10 households are maintaining the cultivation of dong leaves on various scales, from 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters) to 1 hectare, intercropped with pepper, cashew, and fruit trees. These lush, straight rows of dong leaves are not only a source of pride for the local people but also a primary source of income for them during the spring season. According to the dong leaf growers, this year's market has seen relatively stable prices, giving consumers peace of mind. Specifically, traders are buying at the gardens for 60,000-70,000 VND per 100 leaves for grade 1 (large, beautiful, and undamaged leaves), and 40,000-50,000 VND per 100 leaves for grade 2. Although prices haven't fluctuated significantly compared to normal days, demand has increased during the Tet holiday.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ly Thanh Tam, Chairman of the An Loc Ward Farmers' Association, the model of growing dong leaves in the area, although still modest in terms of area, is bringing income to the people thanks to its effectiveness and suitability to the local soil. Mr. Tam said that in An Loc Ward, monitoring has shown that this model helps people maximize land resources, especially vacant land under cashew, pepper, and fruit trees, to increase income per unit area. For this year's Tet market, most growers have started harvesting and selling in large quantities. In reality, the demand and consumption of dong leaves are very good, bringing hope to farmers, especially during this Tet season.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/chuoi-buoi-la-dong-dat-hang-dip-can-tet-20260212135313487.htm
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