Coastal OCOP specialties in spring

As spring arrives, production facilities in the coastal areas of Hai Phong begin a new production season. Many OCOP (One Commune One Product) specialties from the coastal region are expanding their markets and establishing their brands.

An Khánh fish cake production facility (Kiến Hải commune) starts its new season.

In the early days of spring, the An Khánh fish cake production facility (Kiến Hải commune) is bustling with the sound of grinding machines… Leveraging the advantages of its coastal location, the facility currently focuses on main product lines such as mackerel fish cakes and barracuda fish cakes, with the mackerel fish cakes having already received OCOP certification.

According to Mr. Pham Gia Manh, the owner of the production facility, after the reorganization and merger of administrative units, market demand increased dramatically. Although the facility had proactively prepared raw materials since the beginning of December of last year (lunar calendar), the amount of goods produced was insufficient to supply the market because customers trusted products processed from natural seafood.

Thanks to the attention of the local government, the product has been standardized according to the OCOP process and promoted aggressively. During peak periods, the production facility can produce 2-3 quintals of sausage per day, but it is still difficult to meet all orders.

The biggest challenge currently is the seasonal dependence on raw fish supply and the cost of investing in cold storage. Therefore, to maintain, expand, and improve the quality of coastal specialties, the unit hopes to continue receiving support in terms of capital, expansion of premises, better control of input raw materials, increased competitiveness, and gradual penetration into modern distribution channels.

During peak season, the An Khánh fish cake production facility (Kiến Hải commune) produces 2-3 quintals of fish cakes per day, but still struggles to meet orders.

If fish cakes are the "flavor of the sea," then mangrove honey is a specialty of the coastal ecosystem every spring. At this time, many flowers such as apple blossoms and ixora begin to bloom, creating an abundant source of honey for beekeeping. At the Tung Hang Honey Cooperative, the atmosphere is quite bustling with production.

Mr. Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the Cooperative, said that the unit is starting a new season. After the storms, the Cooperative quickly recovered and maintained more than 1,500 bee colonies. A major advantage of honey from the mangrove forest is the clean, natural source of flowers, almost unaffected by pesticides, resulting in stable quality and rich minerals. The beekeeping and care process is strictly monitored and inspected. After dewatering and reducing the moisture content, the honey is fragrant, delicious, and thick. This is also why the Cooperative's products are trusted by consumers, with all production being sold, ensuring supply to supermarket chains and shopping centers. The unit also aims to increase production by 15% compared to 2025.

Tung Hang Honey Cooperative produces honey from mangrove forest flowers.

Besides seafood and honey, coastal communes also develop many other OCOP products such as cordyceps mushrooms, reishi mushrooms, and fine art ceramics, creating a rich product ecosystem. A prime example is Truong Sinh Cooperative (Kien Hai commune), which has invested in high-tech, closed-loop mushroom farms, supplying tens of tons of edible and medicinal mushrooms annually. On average, the cooperative achieves revenue of 500-700 million VND per year, with products available in markets in many provinces and cities, and is gradually approaching the export market.

In addition, the relief pottery line of Meritorious Artisan Pham Van Tuyen has also become an OCOP product with rich cultural value. The model combining production, display, and experience is attracting a large number of visitors, opening up opportunities for the development of coastal craft village tourism .

Following the administrative reorganization, many coastal communes have larger land areas and more favorable conditions for production organization. For example, Kien Hai commune has formed a diverse economic space with over 500 hectares of agricultural land, nearly 100 hectares of crop rotation, and 362.4 hectares of freshwater and brackish water aquaculture.

In livestock farming, the locality maintains a total herd of nearly 9,000 pigs, 146,000 poultry, and nearly 400 buffaloes and cattle, with 25 medium and small-scale farm establishments. In addition, seafood exploitation and processing continues to be a strength of the locality, with dozens of fishing vessels operating regularly, supplying raw materials to processing facilities for squid, shrimp, crab, jellyfish, fish sauce, and fish cakes – processed seafood products that have a stable position in the market.

According to Nguyen Van Quyet, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Hai commune, the commune currently has 13 OCOP products and aims to have approximately 20 OCOP products by 2030. Over the past year, the commune has proactively supported OCOP establishments in perfecting their processes, strengthening propaganda and promotion, organizing trade fairs, and connecting them with consumers. As a result, the products not only ensure quality but also have a professional appearance suitable for the modern market. Local people have received training in biosafety livestock farming techniques, contributing to disease control and improved economic efficiency.

Hai Phong currently has 855 products recognized under the OCOP program, of which 647 are still valid. The program has helped many businesses transition from small-scale production to branded goods, expanding markets and creating sustainable jobs. The city is continuing to enhance the competitiveness of OCOP products, striving to have approximately 1,000 products achieving 3 stars or higher by 2030.

The new spring is arriving in coastal areas, mangrove forests, and traditional craft villages. When properly organized and supported by the government, OCOP products are gradually increasing in value, creating stable jobs, and contributing to the economic restructuring of coastal localities, forming a diverse and sustainable OCOP ecosystem.

THANH VAN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/dac-san-ocop-ven-bien-vao-xuan-536703.html