Journey to bring sweet fruit across the ocean

Access to high-end markets

Bac Giang has the largest lychee growing area in the country, where nature has favored a climate and soil especially suitable for producing sweet, juicy, nutritious lychees. Not only is it the pride of the local people, Bac Giang lychees have also reached far and wide, winning the hearts of domestic and foreign consumers. In 2025, the whole province will have about 29.7 thousand hectares of lychees, accounting for more than 60% of the fruit growing area, with an estimated output of 165,000 tons. The characteristic sweet aroma, superior quality and safe production process have helped Bac Giang lychees become a product highly appreciated and trusted by consumers.

Lychee processing at Global Food Import Export Joint Stock Company (Chu town).

During the development process, lychee has become a symbol of sustainable agriculture , the crystallization of heaven and earth and the labor of farmers, contributing to bringing the Vietnamese brand to the world. To date, lychee has been protected by geographical indications in 8 countries including: China, the United States, Japan, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Laos and Cambodia. Thanks to meeting strict inspection procedures, Bac Giang lychee is confident in conquering demanding markets such as: Japan, the United States, Europe and is present in more than 30 countries and territories around the world.

Mr. Trinh Minh Phuong, Director of External Relations, Mova Plus Joint Stock Company said: “After many years of accompanying Bac Giang lychee, we have realized that this is one of the agricultural products that is especially favored by European consumers thanks to its delicious flavor, superior quality and strong competitiveness in the international market. The European Union is currently one of the largest agricultural import markets in the world , bringing golden opportunities for Vietnam's key products, including lychee”.

Currently, Mova Plus Joint Stock Company has established a network of branches in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, creating favorable conditions for export activities. This year, the company plans to buy about 5,000 tons of fresh fruit for export to the EU, of which Bac Giang lychee accounts for an important part. Meeting the export conditions to the Japanese, European, and US markets further affirms the Bac Giang lychee brand, as a "passport" for this fruit to conquer all markets in the world.

The core factor is product quality.

Over the past decades, lychee has become a gold and silver tree for lychee growers, especially in Luc Ngan, but it has not been able to avoid the situation of "good harvest, low price". Over time, the province has realized that if products want to increase their value, they must not only consume domestically but also aim for export and organize production in a coordinated manner. From there, a series of solutions have been implemented synchronously. From building concentrated raw material areas to preliminary processing and packaging have been given attention.

People pick lychees at night to have them packaged in the morning.

Bac Giang has determined that the vital factor of a product is quality, so it has applied and strictly followed the food safety and hygiene care process. Up to now, the whole province has nearly 300 areas with growing area codes with an area of over 21,000 hectares along with an increasingly complete processing, packaging and logistics system. According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, this result is a big step forward in the awareness of producers. That is, organizing production according to market requirements, protecting the health of consumers is protecting oneself.

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Kep 1 residential group, Hong Giang ward (Chu town) shared that with nearly 1 hectare of lychee, for many years, his family's garden has always been in the export growing area code to the United States. During the cultivation process, he carefully recorded the care diary, cleaned the garden regularly, watered it with clean water and only used agricultural materials according to the recommendations of professional staff. Thanks to strict adherence to the process, his lychee products are always of high quality, purchased by the unit at a better price than with traditional growing methods.

The journey of Bac Giang lychee is not simply about exporting an agricultural product but also about affirming the position of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market. Those sweet lychees have been, are and will continue to cross the ocean, carrying the pride of the people of Bac Giang province everywhere.

Initially, Mr. Quyen was also hesitant about the changes when applying new methods, still maintaining the habit of cultivating based on experience. However, when clearly realizing the benefits of growing lychee according to GlobalGAP standards, contributing to bringing Bac Giang lychee specialties across the ocean, reaching international markets, people had more motivation, persistently implementing and strictly following the instructions.

Not stopping at the care stage, the stages of preserving and processing lychees are of interest to ministries, specialized agencies, functional agencies, authorities at all levels, and businesses. In order to increase the value of the product, many businesses have invested in technology, processing lychees into products such as: juice, canned frozen pulp, vinegar... for export. In particular, they have successfully applied the technology of preserving lychees for a year while still maintaining the original freshness. Recently, Vifoco Import Export Joint Stock Company (Bac Giang city) is the only facility in the North approved by the United States to be qualified to package lychees for export to this market.

Comrade Pham Van Thinh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that with lychee and other agricultural products, Bac Giang province consistently directs the viewpoint of ensuring the highest quality, maintaining its own characteristics, while fully meeting the requirements of food hygiene and safety, traceability and technical standards of the domestic and international markets. The province commits to creating all favorable conditions and maximum support for businesses in the process of surveying, signing and consuming products. Ensuring the quality of goods, transparency of origin, meeting the strict technical standards of each market.

Thanks to the support of all levels, sectors, localities, people and businesses, Bac Giang lychees have been present in many countries around the world. Quality control processes and preservation using modern technology help lychees retain their freshness and unique flavor. The journey of Bac Giang lychees is not simply about exporting an agricultural product but also affirming the position of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market. Those sweet lychees have been, are and will continue to cross the ocean, carrying the pride of Bac Giang people everywhere.

Article and photos: Truong Son

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/hanh-trinh-dua-trai-ngot-vuot-dai-duong-postid420352.bbg