Vinamit creates a closed value chain for jackfruit.

Ho Chi Minh City – From high-tech jackfruit growing areas to freeze-drying factories, Vinamit has built a closed-loop value chain, preserving the original quality of jackfruit.

In the final days of the year, as agricultural production enters its peak season to serve the Tet market, in the raw material area linked with Vinamit Joint Stock Company in Phuoc Thanh commune, Ho Chi Minh City, jackfruit orchards continue to maintain stable growth on land where nutrition and moisture are strictly managed.

Vinamit technicians inspect and bag jackfruit in the orchard. Photo: Tran Phi.

According to Engineer Nong Thi Quy, Deputy Director in charge of production at Vinamit, the company's linked jackfruit growing area in Phuoc Thanh commune covers approximately 20 hectares and is organized into cultivation plots for convenient technical supervision and traceability. Each jackfruit orchard has a complete cultivation log, from the time of fertilization and irrigation to pest and disease control measures using biological methods.

For Vinamit, jackfruit cultivation is not just about producing raw materials, but also a foundation for deep processing. Therefore, the company chose organic farming from the outset. The use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides is minimized, replaced instead by composted organic fertilizers, microbial preparations, and integrated pest management.

In addition to organic fertilization, the jackfruit orchard undergoes regular soil improvement to maintain soil aeration and beneficial microorganisms. The irrigation system is adjusted according to each growth stage of the trees, saving water and reducing fruit cracking and hardening of the segments – factors that directly affect processing quality.

Jackfruit grown in Vinamit's raw material area in Phuoc Thanh commune (Ho Chi Minh City) is bagged using organic farming methods. Photo: Tran Phi.

According to Agricultural Engineer Nong Thi Quy, organic farming requires more perseverance and stricter technical control than traditional methods, but in return, the fruit quality is stable and suitable for high-tech processing. Ms. Quy emphasized that Vinamit does not aim for short-term production volume but prioritizes the quality of raw materials, because only when the jackfruit meets the requirements in terms of segment structure, physiological ripeness, and natural sugar content will the freeze-drying process be effective.

"Controlling the growing areas from the outset helps Vinamit proactively secure raw materials, reduce market dependence, and minimize food safety risks," Ms. Quy emphasized.

After harvesting, jackfruit is immediately sorted in the orchard and transported to the factory within a short time to minimize oxidation. Only fruits that meet standards for weight, ripeness, and segment structure are processed, because the quality of the raw material largely determines the quality of the final product.

Based on his many years of experience in the agricultural sector, Mr. Nguyen Lam Vien, Chairman and General Director of Vinamit Joint Stock Company, believes that if we only focus on selling fresh fruit, the added value will be very low and we will easily fall into a vicious cycle of bumper harvests leading to price drops, while deep processing using science and technology is the sustainable direction.

Jackfruit is pre-processed at Vinamit's factory before being freeze-dried. Photo: Tieu Thuy.

One area Vinamit is proud of is its freeze-drying technology, a field in which Mr. Nguyen Lam Vien stated that Vinamit has invested over 100 billion VND in research and development. With the goal of creating authentic products, the company prioritizes preserving the natural structure, flavor, and nutritional value of jackfruit, something that traditional drying methods struggle to achieve. Freeze-drying allows for water removal at low temperatures without the need for additives or preservatives.

“The model of linking organic jackfruit cultivation with processing businesses like Vinamit has yielded clear results, not only helping people change their production mindset towards a systematic approach with standards and stable output, but also creating conditions for the locality to better manage land, the environment, and orient the long-term development of urban agriculture in the context of Ho Chi Minh City promoting agricultural restructuring,” emphasized Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuoc Thanh commune.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/vinamit-khep-kin-chuoi-gia-tri-trai-mit-d789337.html