Experience picking and enjoying chestnuts in Lang Son

In recent years, Lang Son chestnuts have been known to consumers. In addition, many gardeners in the area have created output products and organized experiential tourism products to increase the economy from the products.

Falling in love with Lang Son

The chestnut growing area in Lang Son province is about 180 hectares, concentrated in Luong Van Tri ward and Cao Loc commune. In Luong Van Tri ward, people used to plant eucalyptus trees as the main tree for agricultural and forestry development. Since 2003, a few households in the area have started planting chestnuts but only spontaneously, on a family scale. Up to now, in Luong Van Tri ward, there are more than 100 hectares of chestnut trees and they are planted mainly in the villages: Quang Trung and Quang Hong.

The family of Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (Quang Trung 1 block, Luong Van Tri ward) is one of the earliest households to plant chestnuts in the locality. Mr. Hieu said that currently, depending on the type, the price of fresh chestnuts ranges from 80,000-150,000 VND/kg. During the main season, a person can pick 60-70 kg of nuts with a salary of more than 300,000 VND/day. Mr. Hieu's family alone earns over 300 million VND from the chestnut garden each year.

An Son Agricultural Cooperative (Quang Trung 3 block, Luong Van Tri ward) is also known as the unit with the largest chestnut growing area in the locality and has linked 36 members to participate in concentrated and safe production. In 2017, the Cooperative received State support in designing logos and barcodes to trace the origin of Quang Lac chestnuts. Along with that, it also received support in promoting products through trade fairs and display booths... Currently, the Cooperative's chestnut output reaches over 10 tons of nuts/year, bringing in revenue of over 1 billion VND. The Cooperative's product consumption market includes major provinces and cities such as: Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hanoi...

Chestnut tree is a symbol of Lang Son.

Besides Luong Van Tri ward, Cao Loc commune is also a locality with a large chestnut growing area in Lang Son with over 80 hectares, of which the majority is concentrated in Co Quat village with an area of ​​over 30 hectares. In 2021, the local government organized a model of "Planting and caring for chestnut trees" in Co Khuat village with 11 participating households. When participating in the model, households are supported with seeds, fertilizers and training in planting techniques.

After one year of implementing the model, the survival and growth rate reached 95% with a total planting area of ​​over 2 hectares. Mr. Hoang Hong Nguyen, Head of the Economic Department of Cao Loc commune, said: Chestnut is an agricultural tree suitable for the local natural conditions. The chestnut tree planted by people in Cao Loc commune is a plank chestnut tree originating from Trung Khanh, Cao Bang province. This is a tree that can adapt to natural conditions, grows well in areas with a temperature range of 8 - 22 degrees Celsius, and can be harvested after 3 - 5 years of planting, with an average yield of 10 kg - 20 kg/tree.

Realizing the potential for development, bringing economic efficiency to the people and the locality, in recent times, Cao Loc district (old) has promoted, mobilized, and guided local people to convert some garden and hill areas to grow chestnut trees, contributing to increasing income. At the same time, specialized agencies have promoted and supported people to apply scientific advances in production.

Tourists enjoy the chestnut picking experience. Photo: Thanh Binh

Combining the development of experiential tourism

In addition to developing chestnut trees into an economic crop, chestnut growers have known how to combine the development of garden houses into unique tourist experience spots. Some garden houses such as: An Son Cooperative, Khao Khoang, Thien Dai, Huong Sac Xu Lang Ecological Area, Mrs. Hoang Thi Doan's garden house (Quang Trung 2 Block, Luong Van Tri Ward) with more than 5,000 trees have been supported by the government to connect with the Northeast Forestry Seed Joint Stock Company to develop experimental chestnut gardens to provide high-quality propagation cuttings.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Anh, representative of Khao Khoang garden (Quang Trung 3 block, Luong Van Tri ward) said: The experience of picking chestnuts on the spot and bringing the products home is considered an activity that creates many emotions for visitors when they can enjoy the fruits of their own labor. Many gardens in Luong Van Tri ward open chestnut picking experiences with free entrance fees, only collecting processing fees and "chestnut" product fees according to the number of customers buying.

Tourists coming to experience chestnut gardens is also an effective way to promote the product and organic farming method of "fresh and delicious chestnuts of Lang". In addition, some gardeners also process and peel the products to sell to tourists as gifts. According to Ms. Van Anh, peeled chestnuts are a favorite item of tourists because of their convenience and cleanliness. When brought home, the products can be processed according to customers' preferences such as: boiled, grilled, cooked in sweet soup, sticky rice...

Ms. Van Anh added that chestnuts are grown organically without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Consumers highly appreciate the product “Lang Son chestnuts” which has a rich, fragrant, soft taste and is rich in nutrients and protein…

Currently, gardeners also launch products processed from chestnuts for tourists to enjoy on the spot such as chestnut sticky rice, chestnut cake, chestnut milk... This is a creative way to both increase income and promote the image of local specialties.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/trai-nghiem-hai-va-thuong-thuc-hat-de-lang-son-10395404.html