Con Cuong oranges ripen early and are reasonably priced.

The early ripening orange varieties are BH oranges, also known as cool oranges and Xa Doai oranges with yellow flesh. Compared to previous years, this year, due to the impact of storms No. 3 and No. 4, the orange yield has decreased but the selling price remains stable as last year, from 25,000 VND/kg.

Looking at the orange acreage in Bong Khe commune that is now ready for harvest. Photo: Minh Hanh

Although the garden has only been opened for nearly a week, the orange garden of Ms. Tran Thi Hai's family in Tan Lap village, Bong Khe commune has had many traders come to order. In 2013, her family invested in planting 2 hectares of oranges with over 1,000 trees, the entire orange garden was planted with Van Du oranges, Xa Doai yellow heart.

Ms. Hai said: Currently, over 300 Xa Doai orange trees of her family have begun to be harvested with the selling price at the garden of 25,000 VND/kg. In addition to some local traders, there are also traders from Quy Hop and Anh Son who also drive to the garden to buy. It is estimated that this year, the family's 2 hectares of oranges will yield 60 tons, after deducting expenses, the family has a revenue of nearly 1 billion VND.

Ms. Yen excitedly introduces her family's orange garden. Photo: Minh Hanh

Ms. Vi Thi Yen's family's orange garden in Tan Huong village, Yen Khe commune has 400 trees, of which 200 are planted with BH orange variety. According to Ms. Yen, BH variety is not picky about soil, the tree grows quickly, has good disease resistance, high yield, few seeds, juicy, and harvest time is around September. This year, due to continuous rain, many oranges fell off, her family alone suffered a loss of about 1 ton. However, the price is still stable as last year. Also according to Ms. Yen, with 200 BH orange trees, this year's estimated yield is about 7 tons. With the garden price of 25,000 VND/kg, her family's income from the early orange crop is approximately 170 million VND.

The BH orange variety with few seeds, juicy and high yield is currently grown in many communes in Con Cuong area. Photo: Ba Hau

Currently, Con Cuong has 360 hectares of oranges, of which 120 hectares are for harvest. Of which, Yen Khe is the locality with the largest orange area in the district with 257.96 hectares. Mr. Vi Van Dau - Chairman of Yen Khe Commune People's Committee said: The whole commune currently has about 77 hectares of oranges for harvest. In addition to orange varieties such as Van Du, Xa Doai with yellow flesh, in the past 5-6 years, many households have also grown BH varieties. With the introduction of 2 early and late ripening varieties, the Con Cuong orange harvest season starts from the end of September of the previous year to February and March of the following year.

Implementing the project to develop the Con Cuong orange brand, Con Cuong district has also had many support mechanisms for households to invest in developing orange trees. According to the local planning, by 2020, over 450 hectares of oranges will be developed, mainly in the communes of Yen Khe, Chi Khe, Mon Son, Luc Da, Bong Khe, Don Phuc, Mau Duc and Thach Ngan. The district has also established an orange growing cooperative and built geographical indications to protect the production area and increase the income value for the people.