The essence of cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts.

LANG SON - From standardized raw material sources to modern processing methods, cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts are gradually asserting their value as a typical OCOP product.

Factory sounds, product stories

Every morning, in the processing plant spanning over 1,000 m² in Ky Lua ward, the sounds of drying machines, shelling machines, and vacuum packaging machines of Lang Son Macca & Sachi Joint Stock Company (the Company) resound steadily.

Each batch of dried macadamia nuts is inspected by workers, the shells are cracked, and they are carefully packaged before being released to the market. It may seem simple, but behind those packages of cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts (a 4-star OCOP product) lies a long and persistent journey of the business and the people.

Macca & Sachi Lang Son Company's dried cracked-shell macadamia nut and macadamia kernel products have achieved OCOP 4-star certification. Photo: Hoang Nghia.

Just a few years ago, macadamia trees in Lang Son were still in their infancy, mainly grown on a trial basis to assess their adaptability. In many areas, people lacked technical expertise, production was fragmented, and there was no stable market outlet, resulting in inconsistent quality and yield.

The turning point came when the company decided to build a closed-loop supply chain, something no other business in the province had successfully done before. From here, the company's macadamia story entered a new phase: more systematic, more scientific , and geared towards sustainable value.

Raw material sourcing areas create a sustainable foundation.

To achieve a 4-star OCOP product rating, the company understands that to excel at the top, one must start from the roots. The company invested in a mother plant nursery in Tran Ninh commune (formerly Van Quan district), a nursery in Hop Thanh commune (formerly Cao Loc district), and partnered with a grafting unit in Dak Lak province to ensure the quality of seedlings before planting them in the growing area.

Thanks to nearly 10 years of accumulated experience, the company has established a raw material area of ​​approximately 600 hectares in various localities, linking with hundreds of households. Areas using seedlings supplied by the company are guaranteed to have their entire lifespan of the plants purchased, giving farmers peace of mind for long-term investment.

A store employee arranges boxes of Minh Cuong macadamia nuts on a display counter. Photo: Minh Cuong.

The raw material areas undergo soil and water sample testing and are certified to meet safety standards. Many areas have reached 4-5 years of age and are beginning to bear fruit consistently. Each year, the company purchases tens of tons of fruit, becoming a reliable outlet for macadamia growers in the province.

Besides providing income for the people, the raw material area also helps ensure a stable and consistent supply, meeting processing requirements and OCOP standards.

Processing technology determines quality.

After harvesting, macadamia nuts from the growing regions are transported to the processing plant. There, they undergo a closed-loop process: shell removal, size sorting, standardized heat drying, machine cracking, packaging, vacuum sealing, labeling, and traceability.

Modern production lines help macadamia nuts retain their natural richness, crispness, and aroma, while fully meeting food safety and hygiene requirements – a crucial criterion for achieving OCOP 4-star status. The production process is controlled according to HACCP standards and operates within a safe food supply chain, ensuring consistent quality from raw materials to finished products.

Combined with a unique processing formula, the product boasts a distinctive flavor and high quality, setting it apart from many similar products on the market. The finished product is neatly packaged with clear barcodes, making it convenient for retail systems and serving tourists.

Each year, the business supplies approximately 20 tons of cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts to the market. In addition, the factory produces about 10 tons of macadamia kernels and 100 liters of pure macadamia oil, meeting the growing consumer demand. These products are not only strongly consumed within the province but are also steadily expanding to Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and other locations.

After drying, the macadamia nuts reach a uniform level of doneness and are then transferred to the shell cracking and packaging stage. Photo: Hoang Nghia.

Thanks to its consistent quality, in 2021, the company's cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts were recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as a typical national rural industrial product - a significant milestone in elevating Lang Son's OCOP brand.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the company, shared: “Lang Son's climate is very suitable for growing macadamia nuts, but to have a 4-star OCOP product, we need a large growing area, standard varieties, and modern processing. Only with a sustainable supply chain can we create high-quality products.”

OCOP paves the way into the market.

An OCOP product only truly "survives" when it is accepted by consumers. This is clearly demonstrated by the market's feedback on Lang Son's cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts.

Ms. Hoang Kim Oanh, owner of Oanh Hung store (Bac Son Street, Ky Lua Ward), said that her store has been selling macadamia products from the company for a long time. As a local specialty store, Oanh Hung considers Minh Cuong macadamia nuts its main product due to their consistent quality.

"Customers have given very positive feedback; the packaging is beautiful, and the nuts are crispy and rich. Especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts are always a popular gift," said Ms. Oanh.

Thanks to the 4-star OCOP standard, the product can easily access supermarket systems, participate in trade fairs and trade promotion programs, expand its market, and increase sales. OCOP certification also helps enhance brand value and provides peace of mind for consumers in a market where many macadamia products of unknown origin are still available.

After processing, macadamia nuts are packed in large quantities in specialized bags before being moved to the sorting and packaging stage for the final product. Photo: Hoang Nghia.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lang Son province, the OCOP-certified cracked-shell dried macadamia nut product is creating a significant shift in upgrading production processes, from raw materials to processing. When standardized according to the OCOP criteria, the product must meet higher requirements for quality, traceability, and food safety, thereby encouraging growers and businesses to innovate their practices.

This is also an opportunity for Lang Son to elevate the status of its local agricultural products, expand linkages between macadamia growing areas and processing and consumption facilities, create more stable livelihoods, and increase value for people in mountainous areas in the coming years.

Aspiration to reach further

From the first macadamia trees planted sporadically nearly 10 years ago to today's OCOP 4-star cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts, it's been a journey of changing mindsets and practices. For businesses, it's a journey of persistent and systematic investment. For farmers, it's peace of mind regarding market outlets and sustainable linkages. For the agricultural sector, it's proof of the direction of connecting production with the value chain.

Currently, Macca & Sachi Lang Son Company is expanding its raw material area and upgrading its processing technology to aim for OCOP 5-star certification and export in the near future.

A company representative introduces Minh Cuong macadamia products to visitors at a trade promotion event. Photo: Minh Cuong.

An OCOP product is not just a commercial commodity, but the culmination of knowledge, labor, and a vision for sustainable agricultural development. With cracked-shell dried macadamia nuts, the story transcends a single product. It represents the aspiration to bring agricultural products from the mountainous region of Lang Son to a wider market.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tinh-hoa-tu-hat-macca-say-nut-vo-d784835.html