Golden apricots flood the market, Hanoi consumers 'hunt'

Price fluctuations in the markets

According to the reporter of Cong Thuong Newspaper, at some traditional markets in Hanoi such as Nghia Tan market (Cau Giay), Cong Vi market, Thanh Cong market (Ba Dinh),... the retail price of this fruit ranges from 30,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, even at some regional fruit specialty stores or online markets, the price can be up to 80,000 VND/kg for fruit with good quality and beautiful appearance.

Ms. Tran Thi Loan, a fruit vendor at Cong Vi market (Ba Dinh), said: “This year, the yellow apricots arrived earlier than every year. The goods are very beautiful, the fruit is round and even, with shiny skin. Although the import price is high, sometimes up to 20,000 VND/kg, customers still buy a lot because everyone wants to have apricots soaked in sugar or wine for the summer. I sell them for about 35,000 - 50,000 VND/kg, selling nearly 50kg each day. Some days, they are out of stock, customers order in the morning but by noon, they are all sold out.”

Ms. Loan also shared that customers prefer hard apricots because they have more essential oils and are more fragrant. Many people choose to buy at this time because the price has dropped significantly compared to the beginning of the season. Small traders also take advantage of this opportunity to collect goods to sell.

Yellow apricots are being sought after by consumers. Photo: NVCC

Not only selling well in traditional markets, according to surveys from online market groups or e-commerce platforms, yellow apricots are also being advertised widely, with prices ranging from 35,000 - 45,000 VND/kg.

Every year around the end of April and the beginning of May, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc (Cau Giay District, Hanoi) looks for yellow apricots to sell for profit. Ms. Ngoc said that this year, the price of yellow apricots is about 20% higher than the same period last year. However, Ms. Ngoc also emphasized that although the price has increased, the demand has not decreased.

"I import apricots from Moc Chau to sell online. I sell about 100 kg per day. Customers order continuously, and sometimes I can't deliver on time," Ngoc added.

Small traders compete to make profit

According to Ms. Ngoc, consumers are competing to hunt for yellow apricots to make sugar-soaked apricots, salted apricots or to process into traditional dishes.

Consumers are racing to hunt for yellow apricots to make candied apricots, salted apricots or to process into traditional dishes. Photo: NVCC

Ms. Nguyet Anh, a trader at Nghia Tan market (Cau Giay district, Hanoi) shared: “Every day I import about 50 kg of yellow apricots, and they sell out every day. Regular customers usually order in advance the day before, some buy dozens of kilos to soak in sugar, soak in wine or make dried apricots for the whole family to use gradually. Although the price of apricots is high, customers still buy a lot because the season passes quickly and is scarce.”

In addition, Ms. Anh also revealed: “Yellow apricots sell very well, and the profit is also good. I make a profit of about 5,000 - 15,000 VND per kilogram, selling a few dozen kilograms a day is a stable income. This year the apricots bloom early, the input price is higher, but in return, the appearance is beautiful, the fruit is uniform, so it is easier to sell than in previous years. There are days when customers at the online market ask to buy wholesale to send to the province.”

Ms. Anh added that compared to last year, this year's consumption tends to increase, especially after recipes for making pickled apricots spread widely on social networks, attracting young housewives to "hunt for apricots".

Many traders commented that this year's market is not only for housewives to buy pickled apricots, but many small traders are also rushing to buy goods to sell online, causing purchasing power to increase sharply.

Looking to buy 10kg of yellow apricots on online market groups, Mr. Nguyen Duc Nam (Dong Da, Hanoi) said: “I bought 10kg of apricots to soak in wine and make syrup for my family to use gradually. The apricots are fragrant and crunchy, very suitable for processing.”

Yellow apricots are being advertised widely on social networks. Screenshot

The boom of the yellow apricot market on online platforms not only brings profits to sellers but also poses many challenges regarding product quality and origin.

Ms. Le Thi Mai (Dong Anh, Hanoi) reported: "I ordered yellow apricots online, but when I received the goods, the fruit was crushed and not as fresh as advertised. I contacted the seller but received no response."

Mr. Hoang Van Nam, owner of a store specializing in providing Northwest specialties on the online market, said: “The source of goods is scarce, the import price is high and transportation is also difficult, so it can lead to the fruit being damaged during the delivery process. We always try to check carefully before packaging, but we cannot avoid 100% of the risks. Customers who have problems can contact us directly for an exchange or refund. However, there are still some small retailers who are not responsible, affecting the overall reputation of the market.”

Mr. Nam also emphasized that consumers should choose shops with good feedback and clear quality commitments to avoid buying poor quality products or having trouble when needing support.

This year's golden apricot season not only brings significant income to people in mountainous areas but also creates a wave of vibrant consumption in the online market.

Apricot season only lasts from 1.5 to 2 months, so yellow apricots are becoming a "bargain" for growers and traders thanks to the high demand and strong development of online sales channels.

Minh Trang

Source: https://congthuong.vn/mo-vang-ngap-cho-nguoi-tieu-dung-ha-noi-san-don-388349.html