Enhancing the value of Son La plums.

With over 14,500 hectares and an annual yield of approximately 100,000 tons of fruit, plum trees are one of the province's main fruit crops. These days, plum-growing areas are entering the peak harvest season. Along with focusing on improving fruit quality, farmers and cooperatives are promoting the application of science and technology, digital transformation, expanding consumption markets, and developing processing, gradually increasing the value of Son La plums.

Officials from the Center for Agricultural Extension and Digital Transformation are guiding farmers in Moc Chau ward on techniques for producing plums in a safe and sustainable manner.

Standardize production, expand markets.

To enhance the value of plums, households and cooperatives in the province are focusing on applying VietGAP and organic farming standards in cultivation and connecting with consumers, gradually meeting market demands. In Vuon Dao residential area, Moc Chau ward, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuan's family has 7 hectares of plum trees that are entering the peak harvest season. Thanks to the application of clean and safe cultivation techniques, the family's plum orchard yields stable productivity, uniform fruit, and attractive appearance, attracting early orders from traders and purchasing units.

Mr. Thuan shared: "Our family focuses on pruning branches, applying balanced fertilizer, and implementing care measures according to the guidance of professional staff. As a result, we harvest nearly 200 tons of fruit each year. Besides selling to traders, we also promote our products on social media to reach more customers outside the province. Diversifying sales channels helps us sell more easily and increase the value of our products."

Farmers in Phiêng Khoái commune are harvesting plums.

Along with individual producers, cooperatives are also proactively linking production and consumption in a sustainable manner. In Phiêng Khoài commune, the Kiên Cường Cooperative, with 18 members, has partnered with 50 households to cultivate 98 hectares of plums according to VietGAP standards. To extend the harvesting period, reduce pressure on consumption during the main season, and improve economic efficiency, the cooperative proactively applies technical measures to produce off-season plums. This year, the cooperative's production of both main-season and off-season plums reached over 250 tons, mainly sold through the Big C supermarket system and in provinces and cities nationwide.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet, Deputy Director of Kien Cuong Cooperative, said: "Off-season plum production helps extend the product supply period and limit concentrated harvesting in a short time. Thanks to this, the cooperative is more proactive in connecting with consumption partners, maintaining a stable supply of goods for supermarkets and agricultural product stores, contributing to improving the production efficiency of its members."

To support farmers and cooperatives in developing production, the agricultural sector has strengthened guidance on applying safety standards, building concentrated raw material areas; and promoting the application of digital transformation in the promotion and consumption of agricultural products. Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Center for Agricultural Extension and Digital Transformation, said: In recent years, many households and cooperatives have proactively used QR codes for traceability, promoted products on digital platforms, and participated in e-commerce platforms. Transparent product information and direct connection with consumers have expanded the market, built brands, and enhanced the competitiveness of Son La plums.

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Currently, along with improving product quality, localities are focusing on building brands and developing standardized raw material areas. To date, the entire province has been granted 7 plum growing area codes. Many products have been introduced into supermarket systems, safe agricultural product stores, and modern distribution channels, gradually asserting their position in the market.

Adding value through processing

Besides consuming fresh fruit, processing is becoming an important direction to increase the added value of plums. With large production volumes and concentrated harvesting times, developing processed products helps solve seasonal output problems, extend shelf life, diversify products, and improve economic efficiency.

Pre-processing of late-season plums at Quyet Thanh Agricultural Cooperative.

At the Quyet Thanh Agricultural Cooperative in Thao Nguyen Ward, peak harvest days are also when the processing facility operates at full capacity. Plums are purchased from households in the raw material area, then processed into dried plums, plum syrup, plum juice concentrate, candied plums, and plum jam. Mr. Pham Van Quyet, Director of the Cooperative, said: In recent years, market demand for processed plum products has been increasing. The cooperative has invested in machinery, perfected the production process, and improved product designs. Every day, the cooperative purchases and processes 2-3 tons of fresh plums. Processing helps increase the value of plums, creating more product lines to serve the market year-round instead of just focusing on the harvest season.

Handcrafted processed plum products contribute to product diversification and market expansion.

With the participation of cooperatives, many localities are exploiting the advantages of raw material areas and tourism to develop processed plum products, expanding the consumption space. Mr. Hoang Van Thang, Deputy Director of the Moc Chau Ward General Service Center, said: Previously, most plum production was consumed as fresh fruit, so its value depended heavily on the market during the short harvest season. Currently, along with the development of tourism and OCOP products, many production facilities in the area have processed plums into characteristic products such as candied plums, dried plums, syrup, and plum concentrate. These products not only serve tourists but are also consumed in many provinces and cities nationwide, contributing to expanding the market and increasing the value of local plums.

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Not only cooperatives and production facilities, but many plum growers also process plum products themselves, such as candied plums, jams, syrups, concentrates, dried plums, pickled plums, etc., to meet market demand and add value to plums after harvest. Along with this, the province is also focusing on developing processed plum products in a way that improves quality and builds brands. To date, 11 processed plum products have been recognized as OCOP products, contributing to diversifying local agricultural products, expanding consumption markets, enhancing the value of the production chain, and affirming the Son La plum brand.

A booth displaying Son La plums at Saigon Co.op.
Photo: PV

From producing according to safety standards and expanding consumer markets to developing processing, Son La plums are gradually completing their value chain. When people, cooperatives, and businesses participate in all stages from production, preservation, consumption, to processing, the plums not only increase their economic value but also have more opportunities to conquer larger markets. This is an important foundation for Son La plums to continue developing sustainably and establishing their brand in the market.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/nang-tam-gia-tri-man-son-la-GeaKr2avR.html