Off-season lemons in the mountainous region of Nghe An are purchased by traders right at the garden.

On an area of ​​2 hectares, Mr. Bui Dinh Thao in Bai Oi village, Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong has invested in planting nearly 1,000 lemon trees, of which about 300 trees are currently yielding fruit. It is expected that this early lemon crop, the family will harvest about 3 tons of fruit, with wholesale price at the garden of 18,000 - 20,000 kg, retail price of 25 thousand/kg, the family also has a source of income of more than 50 million VND.

People in Bai Oi village are excited to harvest off-season lemons because of good prices. Photo: Ba Hau

Mr. Bui Dinh Thao, Bai Oi village, Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district shared: "This year, my family's lemon garden, thanks to good care, bloomed early, so it had a good harvest and good prices, and easy output. If the main season lemons only cost 5 to 8 thousand/kg, this off-season lemons cost double or even triple, so my family is excited to have a relatively large source of income to cover expenses and take care of our children's education."

Also in Bai Oi village, Mr. Bui Dinh Nghia's family has more than 100 lemon trees, but only about 50 trees are harvested off-season. With the current selling price, his family has earned about 20 million VND. Because early-season lemons are still scarce, traders are looking to buy them right at the garden.

Early season lemons are still scarce so traders are looking to buy them at the garden. Photo: Ba Hau

Mr. Bui Huu Nghia, Bai Oi village, Chi Khe commune (Con Cuong) added: "The main season lemons start to be harvested en masse from May to October, but at that time, due to the large quantity of lemons, prices are unstable, and lemon growers do not make much profit. My family has off-season lemons every year, although the output is not much, but the price is high, so we have a significant source of income."

Currently, in the entire Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district, there are more than 100 households growing lemons with more than 100 hectares of lemons concentrated in Bai Oi village, bringing a large annual income to the people in this area. Especially in the off-season, the people of Chi Khe "hit it big".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chi Khe Commune, Con Cuong District said: "Currently, off-season lemons in Bai Oi village, Chi Khe commune are selling at a good price, the current selling price is more than double that of regular-season lemons and is not enough to supply the market. Every off-season, traders from everywhere come to buy lemons with stable output."

In the entire Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district, there are more than 100 households growing lemons on more than 100 hectares. Photo: Ba Hau

In recent years, off-season lemons have become a fairly high source of income for Con Cuong people (2-3 times higher than the main crop). However, not all areas have off-season lemons. Prices increase at the beginning of the season, lemon growers are both happy and worried, but also hope that when the main harvest season comes, the price will still be high./.