“Though the growing areas are expanded with increase productivity, the traders have consumed almost all of the star apple fruits in Hop Duc commune, so now the source of supply is limited,” shared Dang Truong Sinh, Chairman of the People’s Committee in Hop Duc commune.

Family of Nguyen Van Cuong in Cua Song village pack the fruits to the customers.

He also said that many tradesmen visited the orchards to advance the money to the growers before the harvest season so as to buy big quantity of fruits to supply to several markets.

The star apple fruit was firstly grown in Cua Song village 30 years ago. Thanks to many advantages of few worm and disease, juicy and delicious fruit, good looking..., the local farmers have recently enjoyed smooth consumption. Many supermarkets and commercial centers in and outside the province as well as the traders directly visited the orchards to make the deal.

According to Ha Van Tuyen, Vice Head of the Division of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tan Yen district, its most advantage is the low risk of poor crop. Now, Hop Duc commune has 42 hectares of star apple fruits mostly in Cua Son village and some adjacent localities of Hoa An, Luc Lieu and Lo Noi, up more than 10 hectares comparing to the same period last year.

To facilitate the local farmers to develop the crop, the competent agencies and local authority have supported the multiplication and organized training course to transfer the technology...

So far, 10 hectares of star apple fruit in the commune have qualified with VietGAP standard while the remaining areas are expanded toward this trend.

Hop Duc star apple fruits are stamped for orgin traceability.

In 2017, the National Office of Intellectual Property Right of Vietnam granted the registration certificate for the collective brand of “Tan Yen star apple fruit” to Hop Duc Production and Consumption Cooperative of Star Apple Fruit.

The district functional authorities have supported the local farmers to make the package, label and stamp for origin traceability.

Thanks to the training courses of technology transfer, the local farmers know to apply the production under VietGAP procedure, helping enhance the product appearance and quality.

This year, the crop yields of more than 200 tonnes of fruits. Now, the local growers have focused on harvesting the star apple fruit which will last till the end of May.

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Ngoc Han