(QBĐT) - To create a stable market outlet and help products gain a foothold, OCOP producers have continuously improved and enhanced product quality, thereby meeting the standards for upgrading OCOP products, especially to 4-star OCOP.
Opportunity to expand into larger markets.
In early 2024, Thanh Binh Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea and Thanh Binh sleep-enhancing tea, products of the Cu Nam Commune Cooperative for the Production of Clean Medicinal Plants and Agricultural Business (Bo Trach District), were among the few products recognized as 4-star OCOP products. Over the years, the cooperative's natural medicinal products have built a strong brand and reputation among consumers both within and outside the province. However, with the desire to create more products to serve consumer health and solidify its brand, the cooperative has continuously improved and researched to produce many high-quality products.
Cooperative Director Nguyen Thi Giang shared: Following the success of Thanh Binh Gymnema Sylvestre extract and Thanh Binh Silybum marianum extract, the cooperative has continued to research and launch two new products: Thanh Binh Silybum marianum tea and Thanh Binh sleep-enhancing tea. For the Gymnema Sylvestre extract and Silybum marianum extract, after being recognized as OCOP 4-star products, they have had access to more sales channels, leading to increased awareness and trust among consumers. As a result, sales volume is higher than before the recognition.
Recognizing the value that OCOP brings, the cooperative invested in machinery and improved the quality, design, and packaging of its two newly launched products to prepare for OCOP certification. As expected, in early 2024, both of the cooperative's new products were recognized as 4-star OCOP products. Thus, to date, the cooperative has six processed herbal products, four of which have achieved 4-star OCOP certification. “With the 4-star OCOP certification, the cooperative hopes that its products – milk thistle tea, sleep-enhancing tea, spoonwort extract, and Thanh Binh milk thistle extract – will reach more domestic sales channels and gradually expand into international markets, thereby establishing the brand of Thanh Binh herbal products,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang.
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Previously, rural agricultural products were mainly sold in traditional markets within the province. However, after being recognized as OCOP products, especially 4-star OCOP products, they have the opportunity to access larger and more promising markets. Recognizing the value that OCOP brings, many OCOP producers have strived to improve the quality and design of their products in order to apply for recognition.
The black pepper product (freeze-dried black pepper) of the Sen Thuy Clean Agricultural Products Production and Business Cooperative (Le Thuy) is one of the few OCOP products upgraded to 4-star OCOP status earlier this year. Mr. Le Quang Hoan, Director of the Cooperative, said: “In 2021, after our black pepper product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, we continued to expand our workshop, invest in more freeze-drying machines and seed sorting machines; and pay attention to VietGAP and ISO standards for the product. We focused on designing eye-catching packaging, and the pepper bottles are made of glass with a grinding function to preserve the essential oils… Thanks to this serious investment, the product was upgraded from 3 to 4 stars in early 2024. This will be an opportunity for our product to reach more markets.”
Continuously improving quality
Previously, Kính Hương rice porridge powder from Bắc Trạch commune (Bố Trạch district) only sold 50kg per day. However, after being recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, the average daily production and sales reached 100kg. Thanks to OCOP recognition, the product quickly became available in stores and some supermarkets inside and outside the province.
“If Kính Hương porridge powder achieves OCOP 4-star rating, the product's value will be affirmed. We will also easily access markets, including more demanding ones, and our output will be higher. In the near future, we will invest in renovating and upgrading the factory, and installing more machinery to serve the production process and improve product quality in order to complete the application process for upgrading the product's star rating,” shared Mr. Phan Văn Kính, owner of Kính Hương porridge powder production facility.
| In the first three months of 2024, the province had 9 more products recognized as 4-star OCOP products, bringing the total number of 4-star OCOP products in the province to 28. |
According to Tran Quoc Tuan, Deputy Head of the Rural Development Sub-Department, building and developing OCOP products is considered an important task in promoting local economic development. Participating in the annual OCOP evaluation and upgrading process helps products continuously improve and enhance their quality. In reality, products recognized as 3-star or 4-star OCOP products receive partial funding support from the province and district to build their brand. In addition, products participating in the OCOP evaluation are also given opportunities to participate in trade promotion programs, promoting their products within and outside the province, and even internationally. With these advantages, the continuous improvement of products to upgrade their OCOP rating is creating new opportunities for themselves and affirming their value to consumers.
Doan Nguyet
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