Phieng Khoai plum prices remain stable

We went to Phieng Khoai commune, the largest plum growing area in Yen Chau district, to learn about plum consumption this season. Phieng Khoai currently has about 2,800 hectares in harvest. Mr. Bui Van Quan, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: This year's plum crop is an unprecedentedly good one, with an estimated output of about 30,000 tons, while in 2024 it will reach 24,000 tons.

When asked about plum prices this year, the Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee informed: Plum prices have decreased, but not to the "disastrous" extent as reported on social networks. In the commune, for some gardens of people who do not have the economic conditions to invest in intensive farming, the plums are small and have poor appearance, the price ranges from 3,000-5,000 VND/kg, but only for certain households. This year's plum prices are lower than last year, but are still basically stable; the consumption market is guaranteed, with over 70 small retail purchasing points, consuming 500-700 tons of fruit/day at wholesale markets and fruit stores nationwide.

Plums are gathered at purchasing points.

Learn about Kien Cuong Cooperative, Phieng Khoai commune has nearly 90 hectares of plums produced in an organic and VietGAP manner. For two consecutive years, the cooperative's plum products have been certified as safe and selected for use in the domestic airline catering system and is one of three cooperatives in the district granted the right to use the "Son La plum" brand by the Department of Science and Technology.

Yen Chau plums have a good harvest and high yield.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Deputy Director of Kien Cuong Cooperative, said: If last year, the Cooperative only harvested 1,000 tons of fruit, this year the plum output reached 1,800 tons; plum prices this year have decreased, for VIP plums it has decreased by 10,000 VND/kg, for type 2 plums it has decreased by 5,000 VND/kg. But in return, the output has increased, the consumption market is still good. Even for type 1 fruit of VIP size from 15-20 fruits/kg, the Cooperative still sells for 60-70,000 VND/kg. Customers really like organic plums and the consumption is large. The Cooperative manages production with a camera surveillance system in the garden and registers traceability stamps for plum products. When there is a brand, a clear and safe origin, consumption will be easier.

In response to the information that the price of early-season plums has "fallen dramatically" to only 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg, Mr. Cuong explained: "This is the price of grade 4 plums (small fruit, not beautiful, not ripe enough); this type is difficult to sell, growers have to find their own outlets...). Mr. Cuong affirmed that grade 1 plums are still sold at 50-70,000 VND/kg and grades 2 and 3 are priced from 15,000 - 40,000 VND/kg. Therefore, the above information can easily confuse customers, misunderstand product quality, have a comparison mentality, affect sellers and make consumption difficult.

Farmers in Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district harvest plums.

Mr. Nguyen Van Doanh's family in Con Huot 1 village, Phieng Khoai commune has 4 hectares of plums, this year the family's expected output is about 100 tons. Mr. Doanh said: This season, plums are the best in the past 5 years, the output is double compared to last year. With a large output in general, when entering the main season, the price will definitely decrease. Although the price has decreased compared to last month, it is not low. My family divides them into many types according to fruit size; beautiful, large fruits cost 50,000 VND/kg, while type 2 costs from 30,000 - 35,000 VND/kg; type 3 costs from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg; the last type costs 8,000 - 10,000 VND/kg. Since the beginning of the season, the family has harvested over 20 tons to supply to wholesale markets in Thanh Hoa, Hung Yen provinces and Hanoi city.

In fact, in the gardens, the plum area is planted and cared for by farmers according to safe procedures, pruning, shaping the canopy, taking better care of nutrition, creating large, beautiful-looking, quality fruits, the fruit still has high and stable value. Contrary to false information about prices, the good news for farmers is that currently, the price of Phieng Khoai plum has increased by 3,000-4,000 VND/kg for types 1 and 2, and by 2,000 VND/kg for types 3 and 4 compared to a week ago. Some purchasing points are in a state of shortage of goods for transportation to the provinces.

The first plum picking festival in Phieng Khoai commune, 2025.

Mr. Lu Van Cuong, Chairman of Yen Chau District People's Committee, said: The plum growing area with 4,000 hectares, mainly concentrated in the highland and border communes of the district, the expected output in the 2025 crop year is about 32,200 tons of fresh fruit. Up to now, the whole district has consumed nearly 16,000 tons of plums, with prices ranging from 15,000-40,000 VND/kg. Information on social networks about the price of Yen Chau plums falling to 3,000-5,000 VND/kg is a false rumor; because that is an isolated case, very small compared to the area and fruit output of the whole district. As for the reason for the plum price decrease, in April and May, in the area, there are mainly off-season plums and early-ripening plums, traders come to buy a lot to sell on holidays, so plums are priced high. From June 1st until now, in the main season, plum prices have decreased slightly, which is normal, but the general plum price in Phieng Khoai is still higher than in neighboring areas.

This year, with a large plum output expected, Yen Chau district has also assigned specialized agencies to contact previous customers who have purchased in the area to invite them to sign contracts in principle and sell to people; organize product consumption promotion in many provinces and cities in the country. At the end of May, the district successfully organized the Plum Picking Festival in Phieng Khoai commune; coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade, Vietnam Post Corporation to organize livestream sessions to introduce, promote, and promote plum consumption on e-commerce platforms. Support and mobilize cooperatives and businesses in the area to purchase and promote processing, thereby also reducing consumption pressure for plum products...

Provincial People's Committee leaders grasp the plum consumption situation in Yen Chau district.

During a field inspection at the Phieng Khoai plum growing area, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee on Production, Processing, Consumption and Export of Agricultural Products, worked with the People's Committee of Yen Chau District to grasp the situation of plum consumption. He requested the district to verify and clarify the information posted on social networking sites; requested the district to coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly handle false rumors about prices, affecting the production and consumption of plums in the district in particular and Son La plums in general.

Accompanying plum growers, the provincial and local levels and sectors are making efforts to promote, advertise and consume plum products and other fruit and agricultural products. Including the event of bringing Phieng Khoai plum products from Yen Chau district into meals on Vietnam Airlines flights on June 10; Son La plum week at Saigon Co.op supermarket system in Ho Chi Minh City and supermarkets in Hanoi... Yen Chau district needs to focus on introducing plum products to markets, finding new partners; strengthening promotion and advertising activities; mobilizing people and replicating safe and organic growing models, creating the highest quality plums, meeting strict market criteria, ensuring convenient consumption of products for farmers.

Plum growers livestream sales via social networks.

Plum is currently one of the main crops in the economic development of farmers in Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district. The situation of good harvest but low price is not a new story; the main cause comes from small-scale production and lack of linkage in consumption. Not only plum, the upcoming mango harvest, the solution to maintain the market with reputation and quality is to ensure stable product output.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/gia-man-phieng-khoai-tiep-tuc-on-dinh-qQ658kYNR.html