Early season lychee prices are high but still attract customers

New lychee season has just arrived at traditional markets in Hanoi. Although the price is quite high, it is still chosen by consumers.

Lychee "stirring up" the summer fruit market

Early summer is the bustling time of the fruit market when a series of tropical fruits are in season, in which lychee is becoming the center of attention thanks to its beautiful appearance, delicious flavor, especially belonging to the early ripening lychee group.

Since late April, a large quantity of U Hong litchi from Dak Lak has been transported to the Northern market. These are early shipments, with high prices, but are still chosen by many consumers. In May, when U Litchi growing areas in the North such as Hai Duong and Bac Giang begin their season, supply is more abundant and prices tend to "cool down".

Lychee is in its main season and is popular with many people. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

According to Ms. Pham Lan, a fruit seller (Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi ), who was quickly dividing the lychees, she said: “ Lychees are a type of fruit that customers especially love when summer comes. At the beginning of the season, I mainly bought red lychees from Dak Lak . Now, white egg lychees and red lychees from the North are also available, with beautiful appearance and good quality. The price is still quite high, the beautiful fruit must be over 100,000 VND/kg, but customers still buy regularly. Selected products with even, sweet fruits can cost up to 150,000 VND/kg .”

Ms. Lan shared that lychee is an early summer fruit that many people look for. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Notable in this year's lychee season is the return of white egg lychee, the earliest hybrid lychee variety to be harvested in the North. The fruit is round, has a smooth skin, and when eaten has a sweet taste mixed with a little sourness. Egg lychee is sold at a price of 70,000 - 90,000 VND/kg, however, carefully selected batches with even, bright fruit can be higher.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, a fruit vendor at the Green Market (Cau Giay District) said: “ Compared to the main season lychee, u lychee sells for a higher price because it ripens early and has less competition. Although not as sweet as thieu lychee, u lychee has its own flavor. The fruit is small, beautiful, has a light aroma, and is sweet and easy to eat. Retail customers prefer to buy about 1-2kg to enjoy at the beginning of the season .”

Although the price is still quite high, many consumers are still willing to "open their wallets" to enjoy the taste of summer.

Mr. Tran Minh Duc (Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi) shared: “ Every year I wait for the lychee season, especially the egg lychee because it is not boring to eat, and has a unique sweet and sour taste. Even though I know the price is high at the beginning of the season, I still buy it because I feel that summer is the lychee season. One day I bought Dak Lak pink lychee for nearly 150,000 VND/kg, but it was delicious, so I didn’t regret it .”

According to survey, pink fabric Dak Lak lychees were introduced to the market early with prices ranging from 50,000 - 100,000 VND/kg depending on the type. Meanwhile, the Northern varieties of egg-shaped and pink lychees are holding higher prices, from 80,000 - 200,000 VND/kg. Some traditional markets in Hanoi such as Thanh Cong market, Xuan La market, Nghia Tan market have scatteredly sold Northern lychees, mainly selected goods with beautiful appearance, while regular goods are still not much because it is not yet the peak harvest season.

Traders said that currently, gardeners in Bac Giang and Hai Duong are entering the harvest season, although the yield is not high, the quality of lychee this year is assessed as stable. When the main crop season comes in the next few weeks, the price of lychee is expected to decrease by about 20-30% compared to the present.

Economic potential from early ripening lychee varieties

Not only attracting consumers thanks to its special flavor, litchi is also highly appreciated by gardeners for its economic value due to its early harvest, less competition, and easy sale at a good price. Mr. Pham Van Tuan, a litchi wholesaler, shared: “ I trade both litchi and egg litchi. In recent years, I have seen that litchi is also popular, with high prices and early harvest, reducing risks due to weather. Although the output is not as much as litchi, in return, it is sold at a high price, and customers like it .”

U fabric is becoming the center of attention thanks to its beautiful design and delicious flavor. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

The appearance of lychee varieties from Dak Lak combined with traditional northern regions is creating an “early lychee season”, contributing to diversifying supply sources on the market.

Many imported fruit stores, e-commerce platform also quickly updated this item, sold online with home delivery service and opened up a new consumption direction for gardeners.

Traders said that U lychee is an early-ripening variety, so it is often harvested early, then gives way to main-season lychee. In addition to U egg and U hong varieties, this year also saw the appearance of U gai lychee, a type of lychee with a rougher appearance but a stronger flavor, and a soft price, only from 28,000 - 35,000 VND/kg, suitable for the common customer segment.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/vai-u-dau-mua-gia-cao-van-hut-khach-3360020.html