Unusual practice: Traders buy unripe plums at high prices in Ky Son.

(Baonghean.vn) - After years of falling prices, this year, Tam Hoa plums in Muong Long (Ky Son) are being sought after by many traders who are buying up unripe plums in a way that maximizes harvesting, at unusually high prices.

The three-flowered plum tree was once grown in Muong Long commune, Ky Son district (Nghe An province) with the goal of helping to alleviate poverty for the people in this remote border region.

Mr. Lau Nenh Va, from Muong Long 2 village, Muong Long commune (Ky Son district), is harvesting plums from his family's orchard to sell to traders. Photo: Lu Phu

However, for many years, this goal could not be achieved because plum prices plummeted, and many households let the fruit fall to the ground during harvest season.

But this year is different. Recently, in Muong Long commune, many traders from other provinces and cities have been coming to buy unripe plums indiscriminately at unusually high prices. This has caused concern among the authorities and the people.

In just two days, traders bought over 2.4 tons of unripe plums from villagers in Muong Long commune. Photo: Lu Phu

Mr. Lau Nenh Va, residing in Muong Long 2 village, Muong Long commune (Ky Son district), cultivates over 60 nearly 20-year-old Tam Hoa plum trees. In previous years, during the plum ripening season, his family earned between 10 and 15 million VND.

In the 2017 plum season, even though his family's plums weren't yet in their peak harvest season, he had already harvested almost all the unripe plums in his orchard to sell to traders.

Even though plums sell for a high price, he can't help but wonder what people buy unripe plums for. He shared: "They buy them for 7,000 VND/kg. All I have to do is climb the tree and use a stick to knock the plums down. They don't pick; they buy all the green and unripe ones. I don't know what they buy them for, but if they buy them, I just sell them. If we have a lot, we can earn up to 15 million VND."

The plums are still very unripe, only reaching about one-third of their full weight when ripe. However, traders are still buying them at a fairly high price, twice as much as in previous years. Photo: Lu Phu

A truck arrives to collect unripe plums in Muong Long commune. Photo: Lu Phu.

It's not just Mr. Lau Nenh Va's family; the mass selling of unripe plums is happening in almost all the villages in Muong Long commune... According to the locals, this is the first time traders have come to buy unripe plums in such large quantities and at such high prices. Families with 80-100 plum trees have earned between 15 and 20 million VND.

"Traders drive their vehicles all the way to the buying area, we don't know what they're buying it for, but if they buy at a high price, our people sell it," said Mr. Xong Sai Khu, deputy head of Muong Long 1 village, Muong Long commune.

The plum trees, laden with fruit, are now being harvested and sold unripe by locals, even though the peak season isn't until June. (Photo: Lu Phu)

Locals harvest and gather unripe plums, waiting for traders to come and buy them. Photo: Lu Phu

Currently, these plums only reach one-third of their normal weight when ripe, and traders are buying them at twice the price of plums harvested during the peak season in previous years.

According to the leaders of Muong Long commune People's Committee, inspections revealed that traders were buying large quantities of unripe plums and quickly transporting them away within a very short time. Therefore, it is not yet possible to accurately identify the buyers, where the unripe plums were transported to, and what they were intended for.

Mr. Va Cha Xa, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Long commune, Ky Son district, said: "The authorities don't know who they are, whether they buy them for processing or consumption; the people just sell them if the price is right."

Reportedly, in just two days, May 19th and 20th, traders purchased nearly 2.5 tons of unripe plums from the people of Muong Long.

Lu Phu