Enhancing the value of Sam Son's seafood.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Sam Son not only boasts a long coastline with beautiful beaches, "ideal for health recovery," but also provides abundant aquatic resources. Therefore, improving the efficiency of exploitation, processing, and export will contribute to enhancing the value of aquatic products and promoting the marine economy of Thanh Hoa province.

Seafood processing for export at FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd.

The essence of the sea, the warmth of human connection.

In the Sam Son coastal area, the traditional fish sauce making industry has been established for hundreds of years. Carefully selected fish and salt are essential for local people to produce a delicious fish sauce with high nutritional content and a distinctive flavor.

Having gone through a long journey filled with both ups and downs, the traditional fish sauce making craft in the Sam Son coastal region has been inherited and developed, with dozens of large and small establishments and hundreds of small-scale producers and traders. Sam Son fish sauce is not only a favorite condiment among the people of Thanh Hoa but also a favorite among domestic and international tourists, who buy it for personal use or as gifts for friends and relatives. Many fish sauce brands established in this region are gradually affirming their quality, spreading their value, and establishing a memorable place in the hearts of customers, step by step finding their footing in the market.

In recent years, the Bông Sen herring fish sauce product of Phuong Cuong Phuc Co., Ltd. has increasingly affirmed its brand and quality. Currently, the company is producing and selling three main products: pure fish sauce priced at 220,000 VND/liter, concentrated fish sauce priced at 550,000 VND/liter, and 5-liter jars of original fermented fish paste priced at 750,000 VND/liter... These prices are arguably the most desirable for a traditional fish sauce product. Mr. Nguyen Tien Phuc, Director of Phuong Cuong Phuc Co., Ltd., shared: “We price our products based on the differences and advantages we offer customers through product quality. Fresh, clean ingredients are sourced from fishermen in the Quang Dai and surrounding coastal areas, ensuring that the time from when the boats dock to when the ingredients are processed is no more than two hours. The fermentation equipment, unglazed earthenware jars, is purchased from Bat Trang. Before participating in the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, we already had a loyal customer base who were willing to spend money to experience Bong Sen herring fish sauce from the beginning and have maintained that choice to this day.”

To enhance its brand and product value, Phuong Cuong Phuc Co., Ltd. has actively participated in the OCOP program. Besides Bong Sen herring fish sauce, the company also has Bong Sen anchovy fish sauce, which has been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. Mr. Nguyen Tien Phuc, the company's director, shared: “The Bong Sen fish sauce brand is the culmination of local intelligence and labor, combined with centuries of accumulated traditional expertise to create a fish sauce product that embodies the flavor, identity, and soul of the people, offered to customers as a gift from the sea and the warmth of the local people.”

Exporting seafood

Not only does it meet the needs of the domestic market, the Sam Son sea area has been and continues to supply raw materials to many seafood processing businesses, including some that participate in official seafood exports. At Lach Hoi Fishing Port, units such as FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd., and seafood purchasing facilities are always actively engaged in buying, selling, processing, and exporting seafood.

FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd. operates within the Lach Hoi Fishing Port area, with a seafood processing capacity of approximately 850-900 tons per year, providing employment for around 185-190 direct workers. The company's main products are sushi and sashimi made from squid, exported to the Japanese market. In addition, the company plans to process and export several new products such as cuttlefish, octopus, and sea bass, aiming to diversify its product range and expand its export market to countries such as China, Taiwan, and Europe.

Established in 2022, FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd. utilizes two main sources of raw materials for its seafood processing and export operations: imported and domestic. Domestic raw materials account for approximately 30-40%, including those sourced from the coastal areas of Thanh Hoa province in general, and Sam Son in particular.

To open the door to exports and bring products to Japan – one of the most demanding and stringent markets in the world – it is the result of the efforts, determination, dynamism, and creativity of the leadership, staff, and employees of FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd. Along with strong investment in infrastructure, machinery, and equipment, promoting digital transformation, and applying science and technology, the most important factor is strict adherence to product processing procedures and techniques. Mr. Nguyen Hong Quan, advisor to the Board of Directors of FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd., stated: “All processing stages are carried out in enclosed processing rooms and areas maintaining a temperature of 18-20 degrees Celsius. When starting their shifts, workers must strictly adhere to labor protection regulations before entering the processing area to control potential microbial hazards that could compromise food safety and hygiene. Currently, the company is producing and maintaining a quality control system according to HACCP and ISO 22000 standards and has been granted an export code by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment .” In the future, the company will continue to implement solutions to improve product quality, diversify product lines, expand export markets, reduce production costs, and increase competitiveness. This will lead to higher value in the company's processing and export activities, and improved living standards for its employees. Processed seafood products from Vietnam will increasingly be present in more markets around the world...

Not only have processing and exporting businesses made efforts to find and expand raw material sources and improve product output and quality, but the decisive and responsible involvement of all levels, sectors, and units in resolving difficulties for seafood export businesses regarding seafood raw material certification (SC), seafood harvesting certification (CC), and lifting the European Commission's "yellow card" warning is of great significance. This not only promotes stable operations and enhances the value of seafood for processing and exporting businesses but also creates momentum for the development of the marine economy in general.

Mr. Le Van Thang, Director of Thanh Hoa Fishing Port, said: “The SC certificate plays a crucial role in proving the origin and production and processing of seafood, ensuring quality and compliance with international regulations and standards. This helps businesses enhance their reputation, meet the requirements of the export market, and increase competitiveness. This is also one of the prerequisites for Vietnamese seafood processing and exporting businesses to open doors to the global market. Deeply aware of this, since the beginning of the year, the unit has demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and flexibility in conducting assessments, issuing 20 SC certificates to seafood processing and exporting businesses with a volume of over 120 tons.”

Over the years, with the attention of all levels and sectors, local authorities, the efforts of generations of fishermen to venture out to sea and maintain their livelihoods despite many difficulties and challenges, and the proactive efforts of businesses and processing facilities, have contributed to the effective exploitation of marine resources, promoting and enhancing the value of Sam Son's seafood.

Text and photos: Thùy Hương

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nang-tam-gia-tri-thuy-san-sam-son-256639.htm