Boosting sales connections for 51,000 tons of Vinh oranges.

Competitive pressure
Nghe An currently has 4,735 hectares of orange orchards, of which approximately 3,450 hectares are producing fruit. The estimated orange harvest for 2021 is 60,000 tons. Over the past period, the province has implemented many policies to support businesses, cooperatives, and orange producers in investing in and applying high technology, VietGAP, GlobalGAP, packaging, and labeling.

To date, the entire province has 220 hectares of orange orchards applying drip irrigation technology; many VietGAP and GlobalGAP certified orange production areas have been established, with over 150 hectares of orange orchards receiving certification.

Vinh oranges have an attractive appearance and delicious taste, making them popular in the market. Photo: Phu Huong

Thanks to the province's encouraging policies, many businesses, cooperatives, and orange growers haveredirectEstablishing organic and ecological orange orchards, aiming for sustainable development, and providing quality and safe products for consumers, such as Vi Hang orange farm (Thanh Duc, Thanh Chuong), Vinh Ky Yen orange farm (Minh Hop, Quy Hop)...

100% of the orange growing area in Nghe An has had food safety management measures implemented by state management agencies, such as issuing food safety certificates, signing food safety commitments, and producing according to good agricultural standards; products sold in supermarkets and retail stores are all labeled with product origin traceability tags.

Vinh oranges have also been granted Certificates of Geographical Indication Registration for the Xa Doai, Van Du, Song Con, and V2 orange varieties, located in 73 communes across 11 districts of Nghe An province.

"Cam trees covered with netting" in Thanh Duc, Thanh Chuong. Photo: Phu Huong

As a famous specialty product of Nghe An province, Vinh oranges have been well-received and highly appreciated by consumers nationwide. Thanks to the efforts of the province, businesses, cooperatives, and orange growers who have proactively built the brand,product promotionIn both domestic and international markets, Vinh oranges are now sold in major supermarkets such as BigC, Winmart, Lottee, etc., as well as in chains of organic food stores; through trade fairs; by farmers selling to agents in various provinces; and online through e-commerce platforms.

However, consumption throughtradersLocally purchased oranges for resale within and outside the province remain the primary source, accounting for approximately 75-80%, but this has low value and many potential drawbacks. Currently, there are two fruit juice processing plants in the province, but neither uses oranges as raw material; Vinh oranges are mainly sold on the market as fresh fruit or for juicing.

The joyful orange harvest season for farmers in Nghe An. Photo: Phu Huong

In particular, recently, some provinces such as Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa... have also expanded the area planted with Vinh orange varieties such as Xa Doai yellow-fleshed; V2; Van Du, causing a situationcompeteThe competition is quite fierce. Consumers find it difficult to distinguish between Vinh oranges grown in Nghe An and Vinh oranges grown in other provinces.

VietGAP-certified orange orchard in Yen Thanh. Photo: Phu Huong

Boosting the consumption of Vinh oranges.

In the province's development plan, Vinh oranges remain identified as the province's key product for the future. Along with developing production, solutions are needed to promote and find sources of supply.stable consumptionHigh-value orange production is a focus of Nghe An province. Mr. Nguyen Van De, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated: Nghe An will promote the establishment of cooperatives and production groups specializing in orange production. They will build integrated supply chains from raw materials to production and consumption to strengthen management and supervision, while also creating a central point of connection with business units.

Orange season is in full swing in Thanh Chuong. Photo: Phu Huong

"We are focusing on directing specialized units under the department to concentrate on supporting businesses, cooperatives, production groups, and individual producers with knowledge in crop cultivation and plant protection; food safety management processes; product labeling and traceability codes to meet state regulations and consumer requirements," said Mr. Nguyen Van De.

At the same time, create favorable conditions for fruit processing factories in the area to invest in and link up to produce raw oranges for processing; remove difficulties and obstacles toattractBusinesses are investing in building orange processing plants; as well as encouraging and supporting businesses, cooperatives, production groups, and individual producers to invest in processing confectionery, essential oils, jams, etc., from orange raw materials, linked to the development of OCOP products to diversify products simultaneously.enhance valueorange product line.

An orange orchard in Dong Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Phu Huong

At the Vinh Orange Consumption Connection Forum held on November 26th in Vinh City, with the direct presence of leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, e-commerce platforms, supermarkets, and chain stores, and online participation from leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Farmers' Association, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, etc.; numerous distributors, retailers, businesses, and representatives from many provinces and cities nationwide; not only will Vinh oranges be introduced and promoted, but several consumption contracts will also be signed.

In the coming period, Nghe An will continue to promote and advertise its products through mass media, so that the Vinh orange brand reaches domestic and international consumers. It will also connect with major business corporations and supermarket chains, and participate in domestic and international trade fairs and exhibitions to increase the proportion of Vinh oranges sold through supermarkets and clean food store chains.

At the same time, coordinate with thee-commerce platformDomestically, open stalls selling Vinh oranges on e-commerce platforms; support orange growers and businesses in improving quality, perfecting products, packaging, labels, and sales skills to boost consumption through agents and online sales, striving for approximately 40% of the total Vinh orange production to be consumed through these channels.

Signing agreements to sell several agricultural products from Nghe An, including Vinh oranges, with some major distributors. Photo: Phu Huong's archives.

"Local authorities also need to strengthen guidance and supervision of orange production and quality; coordinate closely to manage and direct production, ensure food safety, build a supply chain for product consumption; and develop labels and traceability tags to enhance quality."Vinh orange brand"This introduces quality products to consumers nationwide. Orange growers, in addition to producing quality products and completing the entire process from production, packaging, and labeling, must also actively participate in promotional activities to connect with consumers as quickly as possible," Mr. Nguyen Van Ha shared.

Vinh oranges are harvested starting in October and continuing until February of the following year. This year, Nghe An province is expected to produce 51,000 tons of oranges.

At the Forum on Connecting the Consumption of Vinh Oranges, Nghe An province also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development, and relevant central and provincial agencies to continue supporting the consumption of Nghe An agricultural products in general and Vinh oranges in particular in domestic and international markets. It also requested business corporations, supermarkets, and clean food store chains nationwide to support the promotion and facilitate the consumption of Vinh oranges within their systems.