These are Binh Phuoc specialties that have achieved OCOP stars and are helping farmers get rich.

Binh Phuoc cashew nuts make a series of famous OCOP products

The owner of this very famous series of OCOP standard cashew products is Tran Uyen Phuong, permanent resident of An Khuong commune, Hon Quan district (Binh Phuoc province).

Ms. Tran Uyen Phuong, a cashew nut farmer in An Khuong commune, Hon Quan district (Binh Phuoc province) next to a wood-fired cashew nut roasting kiln. Roasted cashew nuts are one of Binh Phuoc's specialties. Photo: HQ

Ms. Phuong said, with Duc Liem Cashew Nut Production Facility (owned by Ms. Phuong), "I want my products to be different from cashew nuts of other facilities and businesses. The products must have the unique characteristics of my hometown. Moreover, I do not just produce a monotonous product, but need to be diverse, multi-flavored, and meet the tastes of many different customer groups."

With this steadfast mindset, over the years, Ms. Phuong has boldly invested money in processing cashew nuts with the very unique identity of Hon Quan district.

Initially, Duc Liem Facility produced the main product of salted roasted cashew nuts. As soon as the products were made, they were sold out; taking advantage of the success, Ms. Phuong researched, experimented, and then produced a series of cashew products with many different flavors such as: garlic chili cashew nuts, original cashew nuts, cashew candy, etc.

"The cashew nuts produced by our facility are roasted over wood fire, so they have a natural aroma and rich flavor that is completely different from products from other facilities," said Ms. Phuong.

This is what makes Ms. Phuong's cashew products popular with consumers in and outside Binh Phuoc province.

Leaders of Hon Quan district government, Binh Phuoc province visit a booth selling OCOP products of enterprises in Hon Quan district, Binh Phuoc province. Photo: HQ

In addition to cashew nuts, realizing the potential of the coffee market, Ms. Phuong continued to invest in a coffee processing line. Ms. Phuong won big again with coffee products roasted, ground, and packaged with all her personal enthusiasm.

Ms. Tran Uyen Phuong's efforts were duly rewarded, when the two products "Duc Liem Salted Roasted Cashews" and "Chat Coffee" achieved 4-star OCOP certification in 2022.

Engineer leaves city to return to countryside to grow cordyceps

After more than 4 years of studying and holding a degree in biotechnology engineering (Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry), Ms. Nguyen Thi Tien did not choose to stay in Saigon to start a career like many of her friends.

On the contrary, Ms. Tien packed her bags and left the big urban center to start a business in Thanh Binh town, Bu Dop district, growing cordyceps. Thanh Binh town, Bu Dop district is a border area with Cambodia, in the most remote area of Binh Phuoc province.

However, the purity, peace, and seemingly desolate nature of the border region helps Ms. Tien focus, wholeheartedly, and wholeheartedly on the work of cultivating and perfecting batches of cordyceps mushrooms - which are a precious medicinal source, ensuring human health. And, after just over 1 year of building the brand, the cordyceps mushrooms made by Ms. Tien were certified as 3-star OCOP products in 2023.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tien (left cover) introduces the product Cordyceps to the leaders of the Cooperative Alliance and the Women's Union of Binh Phuoc province. Photo: PN

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tien said that after the Covid-19 pandemic, human health needs to be given top priority, so she joined with 7 members with the same idea of contributing capital to establish the Binh Phuoc Women's Cordyceps Mushroom Cooperative at the end of 2022.

"My purpose in establishing the cooperative in Bu Dop is to allow farmers to use products at low prices to improve their health. Because after the Covid-19 pandemic, the immune system is very weak, so it is necessary to strengthen resistance and ensure health" - Ms. Tien said.

At the headquarters of PN Binh Phuoc Cordyceps Mushroom Cooperative. Photo: PN

Currently, the Cooperative supplies the market with an average of 2,000 boxes of mushrooms per month (10gr/box). Mushroom products are divided into many lines, very diverse including: Fresh Cordyceps, Freeze-dried Cordyceps, Cordyceps soaked in honey, Cordyceps wine, Cordyceps tea... The products are sold by the Cooperative at reasonable prices, bringing in a profit of more than 100 million VND/month.

Farmers from Nam Dinh province love to make Stieng ethnic wine

Having lived in Hon Quan district for a long time, Mr. Tran Ngoc Minh Hung is the son of a traditional wine-making village in Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province.

Therefore, when enjoying the traditional wine of the Stieng ethnic group in Binh Phuoc province; his professional blood arose, Mr. Hung learned how to create this native wine.

After a long time of studying how to make wine, Mr. Hung came up with a method: combining family secrets with folk remedies of the Stieng people to create his own unique wine product.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Minh Hung next to the exclusive distillation line of Stieng wine, created by Mr. Hung himself. Wine of the Stieng ethnic group is one of the specialties of Binh Phuoc. Photo: TL

Mr. Hung said: "Starting from the folk remedies for bone and joint pain, back pain... of the Stieng people, I came up with the idea of making wine by combining those folk remedies." Said and done. With his experience as a wine maker, and his constant creativity, Mr. Hung has created the product "Stieng Wine" with a unique, delicious, and nutritious flavor.

Not only focusing on quality, Mr. Hung also applies modern technology in the production process to ensure food hygiene and safety. Thanks to that, Mr. Hung's Stieng wine product has been well received by consumers.

"In the coming time, our facility will strive to bring "S'tieng Wine" to the provincial 4-star OCOP standard" - Mr. Hung added. Currently, the S'tieng wine product with the rich flavor and traditional qualities of the S'tieng ethnic group has been widely consumed in Binh Phuoc province.

The People's Committee of Hon Quan district also set up a center to display and introduce OCOP products of Hon Quan district. Stieng wine made by Mr. Hung's facility was also introduced here.

In 2024, the People's Committee of Hon Quan district (Binh Phuoc province) established a center to display and introduce OCOP products for establishments and homeowners who own OCOP-standard products in Hon Quan district. Photo: HQ

Currently, the province has 157 products certified with OCOP 3-5 star. Of these, there are 3 5-star products, 58 4-star products, the rest are 3-star products, with nearly 80 registered entities.

OCOP products are quite diverse and rich in variety, including 127 products in the food group such as: durian, avocado, green-skinned grapefruit, red-fleshed jackfruit, orange, guava, freeze-dried jackfruit, salted roasted cashews, spiced cashews, pork sausage, cricket powder, pepper...

30 products in the alcoholic beverage group such as: banana wine, ginseng wine, cordyceps wine. Non-alcoholic beverages such as pure coffee, nutritious cereal powder, refined bird's nest, honey, bottled water. 10 handicraft products including: hats, shoes, knitted slippers (caps), knitted flowers; five-color dried flowers for the table, artistic wooden paintings.

To build agricultural product brands for sustainable agricultural development in the coming time, according to Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc province Pham Thuy Luan:

"Binh Phuoc continues to consolidate and improve the efficiency and quality of products with protected intellectual property rights, including: geographical indication "Binh Phuoc Cashews", collective trademark "Loc Ninh Pepper", certified trademark "Binh Phuoc Rubber", collective trademark "Thanh Luong Free-range Chicken" and "Thanh Luong Cowhide Pepper Label".

It is undeniable that to have OCOP brands and trademarks that are imbued with the province's identity, the effort of research and creation originates from the owners and bosses such as: Tran Uyen Phuong, Nguyen Thi Tien and Tran Ngoc Minh Hung. And, the owners also become rich thanks to OCOP products - Binh Phuoc specialties.