To enhance the value of Vinh Orange

(Baonghean.vn) - Recently, some media continuously reported on the Cao Phong Orange Festival (Hoa Binh), and I felt sad thinking about Vinh Orange. In terms of quality and reputation, Cao Phong oranges are hard to compare with Vinh oranges. When Cao Phong oranges cost approximately 20k/kg, Vinh oranges were sold for 30-50k/kg. Therefore, in reality, many traders still buy Cao Phong oranges to sell in other places, including Nghe An, under the name Vinh oranges.

Vinh orange is a brand favored by consumers. Photo: NS

“Vinh orange” is a popular name for oranges originating from the Phu Quy region of Nghe An in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2007, when establishing the geographical indication for Nghe An oranges, people unanimously chose “Vinh” as the name, in order to exploit the maximum advantage of a brand that has become familiar to domestic and foreign consumers (although in fact Vinh city does not have oranges). Accordingly, the geographical indication area of ​​Vinh oranges includes: Doai Commune (Nghi Loc); Nghia Dan district; Thai Hoa town; Quy Hop district; Tan Ky district, with a total area of ​​over 1,800 hectares.

Regarding varieties, Vinh oranges include: Xa Doai 1 (Xa Doai oranges grown in Xa Doai); Xa Doai 2 (Xa Doai oranges grown in other areas); Van Du and Song Con. In recent years, the area of ​​oranges grown in Nghe An has been increasing rapidly, and at the same time, there are some new orange varieties with high productivity and quality. However, legally, those orange growing areas and new orange varieties do not (or have not yet) belong to the Vinh Orange geographical indication.

Granted Geographical Indication for nearly ten years (At the time of granting, Vinh Orange was the 13th geographical indication nationwide), although there have been some activities, it can be said that the management, promotion and development of Vinh Orange brand is very weak. Both state management (Nghe An Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Science and Technology to take primary responsibility) as well as internal management (Vinh Orange Production and Trading Association) are almost lax.

It is very simple that the Vinh orange brand has been granted an exclusive right, but it is only used in a few places and a few times! The vast majority of Vinh oranges are being sold on the market without any brand, or with brands that garden owners have chosen.

Because the management of geographical indications has not been implemented in practice, the Vinh Orange brand has not been well developed, and the handling of violations of the Vinh Orange geographical indication has not been carried out. As a result, a valuable specialty with great commercial potential, which can become a key commodity of Nghe An, is still mainly developed in a spontaneous state, "no one cries for public property".

Many farmers in Quy Hop have become rich with highly efficient agricultural and forestry models. Photo courtesy of Nghe An Newspaper

Recently, there have been a number of seminars discussing the management, promotion and development of the geographical indication of Vinh orange. It is hoped that starting from this year’s orange season, there will be positive moves from government agencies and orange growers. Within the framework of this article, I would like to propose a few small ideas:

First: It is necessary to immediately rectify the state management of the Cam Vinh geographical indication. According to current legal regulations, the Cam Vinh geographical indication is a national asset, assigned to the People's Committee of Nghe An province for management. The People's Committee of Nghe An province has authorized the Department of Science and Technology to manage it. The Department of Science and Technology needs to closely coordinate with localities in the geographical indication area to immediately implement management measures according to the law.

Second: It is necessary to consolidate and strengthen the Vinh Orange Production and Trading Association. The Association is the organization that implements and internally manages the Vinh Orange geographical indication, and it is necessary to implement technical and product quality management solutions. In particular, the organization uses the Vinh Orange logo and the exclusively protected brand identity system, considering this a solution for consumers to recognize and distinguish Vinh Orange from other products. The use of the Vinh Orange brand identity system is also the basis for handling acts of trading in fake oranges and imitating the Vinh Orange brand. When using the brand, it is important to note that, in addition to the Vinh Orange brand (logo), it is necessary to clearly state on the packaging where the oranges are produced and what kind of oranges they are (for example: Xa Doai 2 oranges, grown at Mr. Nguyen Van A's farm, commune B, Quy Hop district...).

Third: Conduct surveys and research to propose competent authorities to add some orange growing areas (in Con Cuong, Anh Son, Yen Thanh...) and some new orange varieties with good quality (such as V2, Minh Thanh orange...) to the Vinh Orange geographical indication.

Fourth: It is recommended that Nghe An should also study the organization of the Vinh Orange Festival and other forms of promotion. In the immediate future, this year, Nghe An will organize the Sunflower Festival for the first time in Nghia Dan district. The plan of the Provincial People's Committee also includes the display and promotion of products from the Western districts. Nghia Dan is also in the Vinh Orange geographical indication area, the location of the Sunflower Festival is on the Ho Chi Minh road, and the festival is held during the peak season of Vinh oranges. It is recommended that the Provincial People's Committee direct and request localities with Vinh oranges (especially the Vinh Orange Association and Quy Hop district) to organize booths to display and sell products. Products displayed and sold here should have the official Vinh Orange brand, be selected and classified, and have beautiful and convenient packaging. I believe it will be successful!

Pham Xuan Can