Group of authors introduces the production method of dried vermicelli and vacuum-packed fresh vermicelli to leaders of the people’s committee of Da Mai ward.

Da Mai fresh vermicelli is a traditional food produced by local people for hundreds of years. Da Mai ward is home to some 100 households producing and trading vermicelli with an output of 15 tons per day. As this kind of product is used only within one day, it is mainly sold to the local and adjacent districts like Lang Giang, Yen Dung and Tan Yen. 

In fact, the machine system does not work at full capacity with the above productivity. Thus, the group of authors including Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Luong Thi Dien, Vu Thi Thuy, Doan Thi Mai and Luong Thi Luan (members of Da Mai safe agricultural produce production and trade Cooperative) co-studied and carried out the initiative of producing dried vermicelli.

Da Mai dried vermicelli product can be used within half of a year.

At the very first step of choosing the material, they use the good type of rice. After soaking, grinding and pressing powder, fresh vermicelli will be freeze-dried. Then, each strip of vermicelli will be cleaned in cold water, dewatered and dried. 

In summer, vermicelli is dried by solar energy through the converging roof. This method helps to save fuel, protect the environment and reduce costs. On cloudy days, they use the electric stove to dry vermicelli. The dried vermicelli product has still maintained the softness, toughness and ensured food hygiene because it is non-additive and carefully packed.

They can make 1 kilo of dried vermicelli from 3 kilos of fresh one sold at the price of 40,000 VND (1.7 USD), increased by 20 percent compared to the traditional product. Currently, the dried vermicelli product is packed into three types of 200g, 500g and 1 kilo, which can be easily transported. The package includes a label, stamp of origin, date and usage.

Vacuum-packed fresh vermicelli of Da Mai ward, Bac Giang city can be used within 3 or 4 days.

In addition to drying vermicelli, these women have made efforts to bring the product of Da Mai fresh vermicelli to domestic and foreign consumers. Recently, the fresh vermicelli has been vacuum - packed and sent to their friends and relatives in the countries of Russia, Czech, Japan and Korea. Besides, Da Mai vermicelli was promoted at some trade fairs and conferences in Bac Giang and other provinces.

“This solution has contributed to increasing the productivity. In the coming time, our group will bring this product to the startup idea contest organized by the Vietnam Women’s Union in Hanoi. Hence, we hope to receive the prompt support of the local government and competent agencies to invest in stove system and vacuum machines. Besides, we expect the press agencies to promote the product to domestic and foreign consumers”, said Luong Thi Dien, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Da Mai ward.

Tuyet Mai