Oranges priced at 12,000 VND/kg aren't necessarily Chinese oranges.

The green oranges being sold widely on Hanoi's streets and sidewalks for 12,000-15,000 VND/kg are not necessarily Chinese oranges, but could be Vietnamese Wenzhou tangerines.

Consumers can distinguish and choose safe Wenzhou tangerines by relying on storage time and characteristics of the peel, stem, and leaves.

Cheap doesn't necessarily mean it's from China.

For about a month now, green oranges have been sold on many streets and sidewalks in Hanoi, as well as in most local markets, at very cheap prices, only from 12,000 VND/kg to 15,000 VND/kg. Because of the low price and widespread availability, the public believes these are Chinese oranges, while the sellers insist they are from Ha Giang.

This type of orange has a thin, green peel, and comes with a stem and leaves intact, sometimes even with 5-7 fruits on the branch. The flesh is yellow, seedless, and has a slightly tart taste. This type of orange has become more common in the market in the last 2-3 years.

At Nguyen Phuc Lai market in Dong Da district, Hanoi, these oranges are usually sold in baskets or by carts carrying two baskets, priced at around 15,000 VND/kg. Because they are much cheaper than many other fruits and can be eaten fresh or juiced, they sell quite quickly.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ninh, a small vendor at this market, said that she sells about two baskets of mangoes a day. She sells them for 15,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the market day and 12,000 VND/kg towards the end when there are fewer left. According to Ms. Ninh, the low price makes them easy to sell, with each customer usually buying 2-3 kg at a time.

Along the extended section of Nguyen Phong Sac Street (Cau Giay District, Hanoi), this type of orange is widely sold. In just a 50-meter stretch, there are more than a dozen mobile orange vendors. The price ranges from 12,000 VND/kg to 15,000 VND/kg.

When asked if the oranges were from China and why they were so cheap, all the sellers, in order to sell their goods, insisted they were from Ha Giang and that the low price was due to the current season!

However, Ha Giang oranges are yellow and are currently unripe, not yet ready for harvest. The harvest season for Ha Giang oranges is around December each year. Therefore, the seller's claim that the green oranges shown are Ha Giang oranges is completely unfounded.

Green tangerines are widely sold in Hanoi (Photo: Khampha.vn)

Prices range from only 12,000 VND/kg to 15,000 VND/kg.

Vietnam and China both have

To investigate the origin of this type of orange, our reporter contacted the Vietnam Institute of Horticultural Research and learned that this "green orange" is not actually an orange but a tangerine. Both Vietnam and China cultivate this type of tangerine, contrary to recent public speculation that Vietnam does not have it.

Specifically, in Vietnam, the name Wenzhou tangerine originates from Japan and is grown in Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province. Wenzhou tangerines have been harvested for about a month now. In China, this tangerine is called "Sha-shi-ma" when transliterated.

However, it's worth noting that the area planted with Wenzhou tangerines in Cao Phong, Hoa Binh is only about 5-7 hectares, so the yield for commercial harvest is not large enough to be sold widely as it is in Hanoi today.

Therefore, currently on the Hanoi market, the tangerines in question could be Wenzhou tangerines, or they could be Chinese tangerines. Judging by their appearance, it's difficult to distinguish whether they originate from Vietnam or China.

However, the ultimate goal of consumers is to choose tangerines that are safe to eat and have minimal chemical preservatives.

Regarding this issue, Dr. Vu Viet Hung, Deputy Head of the Fruit Tree Department, Institute of Vegetable and Fruit Research, noted that consumers can look at the shelf life, freshness, and color of tangerines to determine whether they have been heavily treated with chemicals.

According to Dr. Hung, under autumn weather conditions, if farmers in Cao Phong follow the preservation methods and transport the fruit properly, without bruising or dropping, and without using preservatives, On Chau tangerines will retain their leaves, stems, and peels fresh for two days. If the tangerines remain fresh for many days, it is possible that preservatives have been used.

According to what I read in the newspaper.