Prices increase dramatically, Nghe An farmers rush to harvest lemons at the end of the season

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa's family (Hamlet 2, Hung Yen Bac Commune, Hung Nguyen District) has 300 lemon trees in the harvest period. It is estimated that each tree yields about 1.5-1.8 quintals of fruit. At the beginning of the season, lemon prices only fluctuated from 6,000 - 8,000 VND/kg, lower than in 2022 from 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg.

However, at the end of the season, from the beginning of the 10th lunar month until now, the price of lemons has increased dramatically, traders come to the garden to collect at a price of 25,000 VND/kg, now it has increased to 30,000 VND/kg, 4-5 times higher than at the beginning of the season.

The price of lemons is at a record high, but lemon growers in Hung Yen Bac commune do not have many lemons left to sell. Ms. Hoa regrets: “This year, the price of lemons at the end of the season has increased dramatically. Traders from Vinh City, Do Luong District and Nam Dan District come to buy lemons directly from the garden, regardless of their beauty or ugliness. However, the lemon season is over now, with only a few left. Taking advantage of the sunny weather and high lemon prices, my family has harvested the last batch to import. Nearly 200 kg of lemons were sold for nearly 6 million VND, the value of which is equal to nearly 1 ton of lemons during the peak season.”

The price of lemons has increased, but at this time, lemon growers have harvested all of them, leaving only a few left on the trees. Ms. Tran Thi Thu, a lemon grower in Nghi Cong Bac commune (Nghi Loc) said: “During the peak harvest season, after harvesting, we have to transport them to import; the price of lemons, depending on the classification, is only 10,000 - 12,000 VND/kg at most. At the end of the season, the price of lemons increases, so traders come to the garden to buy all the lemons they pick. Currently, there is not much left to sell, collecting the whole garden will only yield about 100 kg of lemons.”

At this time, lemons are small and the quantity is not much, but people in Thuong Tan Loc commune (Nam Dan) are very excited when the price reaches its peak. Traders buy at the garden for 36,000 VND/kg, the highest price of lemons in the main season ever.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long, a lemon trader in Vinh city, said: "The price of lemons at the end of the season this year is at its peak. The reason is that lemons are scarce at the end of the season; in addition, due to high market demand and prolonged hot weather, consumption is strong. Local lemons are out of season, so we have to import lemons from the South to distribute to the market."

In addition, the demand for lemons for medicinal purposes has also increased, pushing up the price of lemons. According to Mr. Dang Van Hoa, Director of Nam Kim Lemon Cooperative (Nam Kim, Nam Dan), on average, he sells about 300 - 500 tons of lemons to people each year. Lemons are mainly used as raw materials to produce medicinal chemicals such as: shampoo, dishwashing liquid, floor cleaner, etc.

“Currently, the price of imported additives and flavors has increased. Therefore, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies have switched to using fresh fruit as raw materials. Of which, fresh lemon is a commonly used raw material. In addition to lemons, the price of lemon leaves has also increased sharply, ranging from 50,000 - 55,000 VND/kg (an increase of 10,000 VND/kg compared to before),” Mr. Dang Van Hoa analyzed.

Because the native seeded lemons have run out, traders have switched to buying seedless lemons. Compared to native lemons, the price of seedless lemons is lower, only fluctuating from 17-20,000 VND/kg.

“Four-season lemons bear fruit and can be harvested all year round. Due to the high price of seeded lemons, seedless lemons are also more expensive and easier to sell than before. From now until Tet, the price of lemons will certainly increase further,” said Nguyen Trong Binh, a seedless lemon grower in Thuan Son commune (Do Luong).

According to statistics, the whole province has about 2,000 hectares of lemons, mainly native seeded lemon varieties, concentrated in Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Nghi Loc districts and scattered in other localities in the province.

In recent years, due to harsh weather and variety degeneration, many lemon gardens have reduced productivity and quality; in addition, unstable prices have caused many people to cut down and replace with other crops, causing the area of ​​native lemon trees to increasingly shrink.

Meanwhile, this is a type of lemon that is popular in the market, and its price is also higher than other lemon varieties. Currently, many localities have introduced and widely grown the seedless lemon variety. This lemon variety has outstanding productivity, bearing fruit all year round, but is not as popular as the native lemon variety.

Lemon prices are high at the end of the season, so lemon growers are actively harvesting the last batch, while also taking care of and nurturing the trees to promote flowering and fruiting of off-season lemons. Off-season lemons will be harvested from the Lunar New Year to the third lunar month of the following year. The price of off-season lemons can sometimes reach 40,000 - 50,000 VND/kg.