Springtime Colors of OCOP Products from the Ancestral Land

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, as the weather turns cool and the colors of spring begin to appear on every street and village, the atmosphere of preparing for the new year in Phu Tho becomes more vibrant than ever. Along the roads, in supermarkets, agricultural product stores, rural markets, and at spring fairs, the province's OCOP (One Commune One Product) products are increasingly appearing, carrying the distinctive flavors of the ancestral land, becoming a familiar choice for people every Tet holiday.

Tet, or Lunar New Year, is not only a time for family reunions but also an occasion for each family to prepare gifts and feasts that symbolize abundance and prosperity. In this context, Phu Tho's OCOP (One Commune One Product) products are gradually asserting their position, not only as consumer goods but also as Spring gifts embodying cultural stories, the love of the land, and the warmth of its people.

At a store showcasing OCOP (One Commune One Product) products in Viet Tri ward, carefully packaged Tet gift baskets, decorated in vibrant red and yellow, prominently feature products such as specialty teas, forest honey, Thanh Son fermented pork, Dat To sticky rice cakes, Hung Lo rice noodles, Lang Bo soy sauce, Cao Phong oranges, Da River fish, Tam Dao mushrooms, and various essential oils and medicinal herbs. Each product has a clear label and QR code for traceability, building trust among consumers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, a customer choosing Tet gifts, said that in recent years her family has prioritized using OCOP (One Commune One Product) products from the province as gifts. According to Ms. Lan, these products not only ensure quality and clear origin but also contribute to introducing local specialties. "The recipients also really like them, because these are all familiar products with traditional flavors," Ms. Lan shared.

Not only are buyers excited, but OCOP (One Commune One Product) production facilities are also entering the peak season with a sense of urgency but also great enthusiasm. At the Da Hen Tea Processing Cooperative in Dong Luong commune, the working atmosphere in the last days of the year is much busier. Members are quickly packing orders of Da Hen tea, premium Da Hen tea, and specialty Da Hen tea to serve the Tet (Lunar New Year) market.

The lush green tea hills of the Da Hen Tea Processing Cooperative in Dong Luong commune produce high-quality OCOP products, contributing to elevating the status of local agricultural products.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Cooperative, said: "Tet (Lunar New Year) is the time of year when tea consumption is strongest. Thanks to our OCOP-certified products and improved packaging, the number of orders has increased significantly. We focus on everything from using clean raw materials and safe processing to designing elegant gift boxes suitable for Tet."

According to Mr. Thanh, participating in the OCOP program has helped the cooperative change its production mindset, from small-scale to systematic, focusing on quality and branding. Customers are now very interested in the origin and production process. Thanks to the OCOP certification, our products can easily enter clean agricultural product stores, especially during the Tet holiday. This is a motivation for the cooperative to continue improving quality and maintaining its long-term reputation.

Along with tea, fermented pork – a famous specialty product of the former Thanh Son district – is also one of the best-selling OCOP products during Tet. Neatly packaged boxes of fermented pork, with clearly printed labels, have become a familiar appetizer on the spring feast table.

Thanh Son fermented pork, a traditional specialty of the Muong ethnic group, boasts a rich flavor and is a popular choice for tourists as a Tet (Lunar New Year) gift.

Mr. Do Nguyen Duc, owner of a fermented pork production facility that has achieved OCOP 3-star certification, shared while his workers were busy packaging: "Since the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, orders have gradually increased. The closer it gets to Tet (Lunar New Year), the more orders we receive, both from within and outside the province. Some days, our facility ships hundreds of boxes. We have to prepare the ingredients early, ensuring a natural fermentation process, preserving the traditional flavor while still guaranteeing food safety."

Anh Duc added that previously, the product was mainly sold locally, but since being recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, the market has expanded significantly. Many people buy it as Tet gifts because of its beautiful packaging and the story behind the specialty of the Muong region. We are very proud that our hometown's traditional dish is becoming more widely known.

The spring atmosphere has also permeated the villages specializing in making banh chung and banh giay (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) – products closely associated with the legend of King Hung and the culture of the ancestral land. This year, many establishments have participated in the OCOP program, paying more attention to packaging and preservation so that the products can be transported over long distances while still retaining their flavor.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Anh, owner of a banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) production facility in Hung Viet commune, said: "We still maintain the traditional way of wrapping the cakes using dong leaves, glutinous rice, mung beans, and selected pork belly. But thanks to being recognized as an OCOP product, banh chung is now sold not only in local markets but also in supermarkets and specialty stores. During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), many companies and agencies order large quantities of cakes as gifts."

According to Ms. Anh, implementing the OCOP program is not just about upgrading star ratings, but a comprehensive transformation from mindset to approach. Producers must think more about consumers, ensuring their products are delicious, visually appealing, and safe. Tet (Lunar New Year) is an opportunity for us to clearly see the results of a year's hard work.

Besides food, many OCOP products in the handicraft, herbal, and essential oil categories are also chosen by people as Lunar New Year gifts. Gift baskets combining herbal tea, cinnamon essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, etc., bring a warm feeling and promote health care for loved ones in the first days of the new year.

Ms. Hoang Thuy Hoan, a resident of Au Co ward, shared: "I like choosing OCOP gifts because each product has its own story. Giving a box of tea, a jar of honey, or a packet of herbs is not just a material gift, but also a wish for health and peace in the new year."

The OCOP-certified pomelos from Đoan Hùng are beautifully displayed, ready to serve the shopping needs of locals and tourists during the Tet holiday.

According to statistics, by the end of 2025, Phu Tho province had 696 products recognized as meeting OCOP standards, including 106 products achieving 4 stars, 6 products achieving 5 stars at the national level, and the rest being 3-star products. These figures not only reflect the growing scale but also show that the quality and value of local products are increasingly being enhanced. The Lunar New Year is the clearest time to see these achievements vividly displayed on every shelf and in every gift basket.

The rise of OCOP products during Tet (Lunar New Year) also reflects changing consumer trends. People are increasingly interested in domestic products, especially local specialties with clear origins and guaranteed quality. This not only provides consumers with more safe choices but also opens up opportunities for sustainable development for OCOP businesses.

Each OCOP product reaching consumers during Tet carries the flavor of the land, the sunshine and wind of the midland region, the diligent hands, and the pride of its creators. In the vibrant atmosphere of spring, these gifts bearing the Phu Tho OCOP brand not only enrich the Tet feast but also spread the cultural values ​​and the spirit of "remembering the source when drinking water" of the ancestral land.

As peach blossoms begin to bloom, OCOP products quietly appear in every home, contributing to a fulfilling and warm Tet holiday. From rural villages to urban centers, the journey of Phu Tho's OCOP products is not just a journey of goods, but also a journey of faith, of preserving and elevating traditional values ​​in modern life.

Hoang Huong

Source: https://baophutho.vn/sac-xuan-san-vat-ocop-dat-to-247617.htm