Building the brand of Son La Arabica coffee.

In an effort to build a sustainable Arabica coffee brand, Son La province is focusing on planning growing areas, improving seed quality, attracting investment in deep processing, applying high technology, and protecting the environment.

Coffee-growing area in Chiềng Cơi ward.

Establishing specialized farming areas

Arabica coffee has been grown in Son La since the 1990s, currently covering approximately 24,300 hectares, with an estimated production of 37,724 tons of green coffee beans in 2025. By June 30, 2025, the province is expected to export 17,800 tons of green coffee beans, valued at US$69.98 million, a 28.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024, accounting for nearly 70% of the province's total export value. The main markets include the EU, North America, the Middle East, and ASEAN.

Mr. Vu Viet Thang, Director of Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company, said: To ensure raw materials for the factory, the company has partnered with 1,600 households, with a total area of ​​2,000 hectares planted according to the Rainforest Alliance certification program (Sustainable Agriculture Standard); 690 households have built 30 high-quality model gardens.

To build a sustainable coffee-growing region, on March 1, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 331/QD-UBND on the Project for developing coffee raw material areas associated with processing and environmental protection; on May 11, 2023, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee issued Conclusion No. 863-KL/TU on the production, processing, and consumption of coffee using high technology until 2030. The goal by 2025 is for coffee value to account for 6-8% of the total export value of the crop production sector, exporting over 25,000 tons of green coffee beans to Germany, the US, Brazil, the Netherlands, and South America, achieving a value of nearly 100 million USD; 30% of fresh coffee cherries to be industrially processed, and 5% to be deeply processed.

Raw coffee beans for export by Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company.

Ms. Cam Thi Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: with the goal of attracting investment in deep processing and aiming to elevate the coffee brand, at the end of 2022, the province recognized two high-tech coffee growing areas in 18 villages in Chieng Mai and Muong Chanh communes, covering an area of ​​1,039 hectares with 1,560 participating households. The area of ​​coffee certified under 4C and RA standards is 23,448 hectares, VietGAP 141 hectares, organic 543.7 hectares, with 36.8 hectares granted first-class codes, and maintaining 5 coffee chains covering 2,160 hectares.

Son La coffee products have been granted geographical indication protection by the Intellectual Property Office. Currently, 8 organizations are granted the right to use the geographical indication "Son La Coffee". The province has 5 OCOP coffee products, including: Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative's pure ground coffee product which meets 5-star standards and 4 products that meet 4-star standards, including: Aratay Coffee, Minh Tri Arabica Coffee, Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative's coffee husk tea, and roasted and ground coffee of Son La Coffee Company Limited.

Coffee products from Aratay Coffee Cooperative, Chieng Mai commune.

Ms. Cam Thi Mon, Director of Aratay Coffee Cooperative in Muong Chanh commune, said: The cooperative has 14 members, 70 hectares of coffee plantations, and is linked with hundreds of households. Aratay Coffee products, which have achieved OCOP 4-star certification, are produced using a closed-loop process and meet 4C standards. Currently, the cooperative produces four products: Natural green coffee beans, ground coffee, honey coffee, and cascara tea.

The province has 28 enterprises and cooperatives involved in coffee production and processing, with 5 industrial processing facilities meeting 50% of the demand for processing fresh coffee cherries. These facilities focus on waste treatment and the production of organic fertilizers from by-products, contributing to environmental protection.

The Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and the delegation visited the THA1 coffee cultivation model of Bich Thao Son La Coffee Cooperative.

Challenges and goals

Son La province has the largest area of ​​Arabica coffee cultivation in the country, but the coffee plants are facing challenges such as harsh weather, frost, aging coffee trees, production not yet adapted to climate change, and a lack of cohesion in the value chain.

In response to the demands, the province organized workshops to improve coffee quality and trade networking conferences, with the participation of businesses, cooperatives, growers, and experts, proposing various solutions for replanting aging coffee trees.

In addition, localities are stepping up propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage farmers to participate in replanting, grafting, and sustainable coffee development. Many projects and programs supporting coffee replanting have been implemented. A prime example is the project "Building a model for replanting Arabica coffee, training farmers, and providing other support for Arabica coffee production to enhance resilience to climate change," funded by GIZ.

To implement the project, the Provincial Agricultural Technical Center, in coordination with local authorities, surveyed and selected 17 households to carry out a demonstration plot of 10 hectares of coffee replanting using the THA1 variety; provided 350,000 THA1 coffee seedlings, 1,000 macadamia trees, nearly 55 tons of microbial organic fertilizer, 10 tons of lime powder, and Trichoderma fungicide to support households in replanting 25.7 hectares of coffee intercropped with macadamia trees in the localities.

Ms. Ngan Thi Minh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agricultural Technical Center, said: "Demonstration models with the THA1 coffee variety have shown clear effectiveness, good growth potential, high survival rate, and superior resistance to pests and diseases. In addition, training courses on cultivation techniques, production management, and coffee business have helped farmers change their perceptions, apply science and technology to production, and move towards sustainable and efficient coffee production."

THA1 coffee plantation of Bich Thao Son La Coffee Cooperative.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tung, Director of Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, shared: "Since 2019, we have been experimenting with the THA1 variety. Currently, the cooperative has 600 hectares of THA1 coffee, linked with hundreds of households in various localities, covering nearly 1,000 hectares, providing raw materials for the production of specialty coffee for domestic consumption and export to the EU, Japan, and South Korea."

According to statistics, the entire province has replanted, rejuvenated, and grafted approximately 2,818 hectares of coffee with TN1, TN2, and THA1 varieties. Of this, over 1,200 hectares are replanted, and over 1,600 hectares are grafted and rejuvenated; including 1,120 hectares of specialty coffee.

Ms. Ha Thi Hong, from Chieng Mai commune, shared: "Thanks to the support of the province and the cooperative, my family replanted our old coffee trees by pruning and planting the new THA1 variety, and caring for the coffee according to VietGAP and organic farming procedures. The yield of our coffee garden after replanting increased by 20%. With 3 hectares, we harvest over 50 tons of fresh coffee per year, earning 300 million VND."

By 2030, Son La aims to have 25,000 hectares of coffee plantations, producing 40,000 tons of green coffee beans; replanting 9,800 hectares; developing 5,950 hectares of specialty coffee; achieving 18,000 hectares meeting sustainable standards; and maintaining the geographical indication "Son La Coffee". The goal is to increase the area of ​​organic and specialty coffee, meeting quality standards to 70-80%; achieve a ripe coffee harvesting rate of 80-90%; process 80% of fresh coffee cherries industrially, and 20% through deep processing. Exports will reach 80-85% of production, with 20-25% being deep-processed coffee and 15-20% for domestic consumption.

Processing of freeze-dried instant coffee in paper bags by Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative.

Ms. Cam Thi Phong informed: To achieve the goal, our province is promoting mechanization, attracting investment in deep processing, providing capital support and certification for farmers and businesses. We will continue to promote investment, issue policies to support the production, processing, and consumption of coffee using high technology, develop value chains, and protect the environment.

Son La Arabica coffee has not only helped alleviate poverty but has also become a key industrial crop, bringing high income to farmers and gradually asserting its position on the world coffee map.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/xay-dung-thuong-hieu-ca-phe-arabica-son-la-jNzENKyHg.html