High selling prices, many Vinh orange farms 'hoard' Tet goods

Compared to previous years, this year, orange productivity decreased and ripened later. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Le Thi Huong's family in Dinh Son commune (Mr. Son) planted 2 hectares of oranges in an organic manner, according to VietGAP standards. At the beginning of the year, it rained a lot, so the fruit set rate in her garden was low. When the oranges began to become juicy, there was a storm, the rain lasted for a long time, so the fruit fell, significantly affecting the productivity and yield of the oranges.

Ms. Huong said: “Compared to last year, the orange yield has decreased. Thanks to good care, the orange yield is still about 17 tons/ha (down 3-4 tons compared to the previous orange crop). We have opened the farm for sale for nearly a week now. The price of oranges is 50,000 VND/kg, 10,000 - 15,000 VND/kg higher than previous years. Currently, the farm is selecting and selling oranges that are ripe enough and gradually harvesting from now until Tet. The high price of oranges means there is still a profit in the context of high costs for orange trees and decreased orange yield.”

Although input costs are high and the orange crop is worse than previous years, in return, the price of early-season oranges is quite high. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Also a farmorganic orange farming, not using pesticides, so the orange farm of Mr. Tran Dien Vi, Suong hamlet, Thanh Duc commune, Thanh Chuong district has long been known and loved by many people. 5 hectares of oranges with a yield of about 50-60 tons, is currently harvesting the first crop of about 30-35 tons, about 20 more tons will ripen for Tet. Up to now, all 35 tons of oranges of the farm have been pre-ordered. "Oranges cut in the garden cost 50,000-55,000 VND/kg, about 12-15,000 VND/kg higher than last year. All oranges have been pre-ordered by agents and retail customers," Mr. Vi added.

The price of grade 1 oranges at the garden is currently fluctuating between 50,000-60,000 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to forecasts, orange prices will certainly continue to increase in the coming time. The reason is that the area planted with oranges this year has decreased sharply, due to the adverse effects of the weather, the orange crop has failed, productivity has decreased, so oranges have become scarcer than before while the demand for consumption has increased.

Therefore, many orange farms, especially those with ripe oranges during the season,near Tetdid not receive deposits from customers. Mr. Nguyen Dinh An, owner of An Thom orange farm in Dong Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, has 2 hectares of oranges in the 5th year of business.

Orange prices are high, so gardeners are very excited. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Compared to previous years, this year, oranges ripen 10-15 days later and the expected yield is also reduced by about 5 tons/ha, reaching only about 13 tons/ha. However, the price of grade 1 oranges has been ordered by many traders at 40,000 VND/kg. "Last year, the highest price of oranges in the garden was 25,000 - 27,000 VND/kg, this year the price is 10-15 times higher, so orange growers are very excited.

Currently, traders have placed deposits in advance for some areas of oranges that ripen late during Tet, but I do not accept deposits because the price of oranges will definitely increase, sometimes even skyrocketing during Tet, so we proactively "hoard" the goods and wait for the price to increase," said Mr. Nguyen Dinh An.

Mr. Tran Dien Vi's orange farm in Thanh Chuong district has been pre-ordered by agents. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to statistics,Orange crop 2022The whole province has 3,000 hectares of oranges for business. This year's orange crop was affected by unfavorable weather conditions, so the fruit set rate was low. When the oranges were close to harvest, there was prolonged heavy rain, causing many fruits to fall, significantly affecting the productivity and output of oranges.

However, the high price of oranges has made people very excited when entering the harvest season. Along with organic orange farming in the direction of VietGAP, gardeners have now promoted the advantages of e-commerce to promote and connect orange consumption. Thanks to that, the output has been expanded, Vinh oranges have been welcomed by the market, and the price has also increased.

Many orange farms are in no hurry to sell even though they are ripe enough to harvest. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Hung Tam, a wholesaler specializing in Vinh oranges in Vinh Tan Ward (Vinh City) said: "Last orange season, I bought 3-5 tons of Vinh oranges every day in the localities of Quy Hop, Nghia Dan, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Yen Thanh and imported them to agents in and outside the province. This year, oranges are very difficult to buy, the price is high and the goods are scarce. Therefore, in addition to Vinh oranges, I have to import Ha Tinh oranges to supply the market. However, Vinh oranges are still more popular despite the higher selling price."