Working under the scorching sun during the pineapple ripening season.

Amidst the scorching heat, dozens of laborers in pineapple-growing regions of Thanh Hoa province are still diligently picking, carrying, and transporting pineapples from the hillsides down to collection points for timely sale during the peak season. The continuous stream of shipments leaving the pineapple hills under the summer sun creates a bustling rhythm of livelihood in Thanh Hoa's major pineapple-growing area.

Video : Laborers brave the scorching sun to make a living during the pineapple harvest season.

Viewed from above, the pineapple hills in Quang Trung ward, Thanh Hoa province, stretch out in a breathtaking expanse of green. Interspersed among the foliage are the golden hues of ripening pineapples, signaling the peak harvest season.

Along the trails winding up the hillsides, the calls of people transporting goods, the sounds of trucks coming and going, and the rhythmic weighing of pineapples create a bustling atmosphere of the harvest season.

As midday approached, the sun grew even more intense, but many groups of laborers continued to work diligently. Some were cutting pineapples, others were sorting them, and still others were carrying heavy baskets of fruit from the orchards down to the collection point.

The male laborers carried heavy baskets, weighing between 50 and 80 kg, on their backs, up the slope to reach the traders' vehicles parked dozens of meters away.

According to Mr. Bui Van Tuong (42 years old), a laborer who has been carrying pineapples for hire for many years, during the peak harvest season, each team has about 20-25 people working continuously from early morning. On average, each team can harvest 20-30 tons of pineapples per day. The cost of picking and transporting currently ranges from 500,000 to 600,000 VND per ton.

Wiping away the sweat after a pineapple hauling trip, Mr. Tuong shared that the hot weather made the work much more difficult and tiring, so everyone had to bring water. After working for a while, everyone had to find a shady spot to rest before continuing the work.

Not only male laborers, but many local women also participate in seasonal pineapple harvesting to supplement their income. Ms. Luong Thi Dua (36 years old), a pineapple picker, said that the work is divided quite clearly: men are responsible for carrying and transporting heavy pineapples, while women mainly pick and sort the fruit.

According to Ms. Dua, depending on the workload, each worker can earn from 300,000 to 500,000 VND per day, and on busy days, the income can reach around 700,000 VND.

After being transported to the collection point, the pineapples are weighed and paid for on the spot by traders. Many trucks line up waiting to pick up the goods for distribution to northern provinces and several processing plants.

Despite being in the peak harvest season, the joy of a bountiful crop this year is not entirely complete for many pineapple farmers, as yields and prices fluctuate due to the impact of weather and market conditions.

According to Ms. Le Thi Hoa, residing in residential area 10, Bac Son, Quang Trung ward, the early season brought several heavy rains, causing some pineapple crops to be waterlogged and affecting yields. Not only has production decreased, but pineapple prices this year are also much lower than the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Ms. Duong Thi Tho's family currently cultivates about 2 hectares of pineapples. According to Ms. Tho, after about 1.5 years of care, the pineapple plants begin to yield fruit. This year, grade 1 pineapples, weighing between 0.7 and 1.1 kg per fruit, are currently being purchased by traders at around 7,000 VND/kg, a decrease of about 30-40% compared to the same period last year.

To mitigate the effects of the heat, many households are using tarpaulins to cover unharvested pineapple crops to prevent the fruit from being scorched by direct sunlight.

According to the Quang Trung Ward People's Committee, there are currently about 450 hectares of pineapple in the area, with an average yield of about 50 tons/ha per season. Local authorities advise people to apply staggered planting techniques to limit the situation where pineapples ripen all at once, which puts pressure on consumption and lowers prices.

Amidst the scorching early summer sun, pineapple shipments continue to leave the hills. On the green-covered slopes, laborers silently carry heavy baskets of fruit, exchanging their strength for seasonal income during the intense heat of Central Vietnam.

Hoang Dong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/doi-nang-muu-sinh-mua-dua-chin-288228.htm