Growing pineapples for 'self-sale' in Quynh Luu

(Baonghean.vn) - The pineapple area in Quynh Luu district is in the harvest season and people still have to find their own outlets.

Quynh Luu pineapple raw material areas are concentrated in Tan Thang, Quynh Thang, Quynh Chau communes and the Youth Volunteer Team. This year, pineapples have a good harvest but consumption is making growers worried.

Pineapple area in Quynh Luu district is in harvest season. Photo by Thanh Toan

Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa, from Team 6 of the Quynh Luu Youth Volunteers Team, said: His family grows more than 3 hectares of Queen pineapples and has harvested over 40 tons, the type weighing over 1kg/fruit is currently selling for 6,000 - 6,500 VND/kg. Compared to previous years, this year's pineapple yield is higher, but the selling price at the same time is lower by about 1,200 - 1,500 VND/kg.

Ms. Le Thi Dong - a pineapple grower in Tan Thang commune, added: "The price of pineapples under 500g/fruit, broken in half at the garden, is only over 4,000 VND/kg; while in previous years it was 5,500 - 5,800 VND/kg. In the near future, if prices do not increase, we may have to compensate for losses."

With 600 hectares of pineapple in the whole district, it is estimated that Quynh Luu pineapple growers harvest about 9,000 tons of pineapple each year, but Quynh Chau Fruit Juice Processing Factory only purchases a very small amount, the rest is mainly sold to traders who buy at the garden and export to all provinces and cities across the country.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuy - Deputy Captain of the Quynh Luu Youth Volunteer Team affirmed: "The price of pineapple is low because it coincides with the peak harvest season, but when the harvest is spread out, the price has increased. Currently, pineapple is consumed in Big C supermarkets in Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue and some neighboring areas, and when sold to traders, the price depends on the market."

Because Quynh Chau Fruit Juice Processing Factory does not buy pineapples, people have to find their own way to sell them (In the photo, people set up tents to sell pineapples to passersby). Photo by Thanh Toan

Although the market is unstable, pineapple is still the main crop in the mountainous communes of Quynh Luu, so people cannot give it up. Currently, in addition to stepping up the search for consumers in supermarkets, Quynh Luu district is promoting the planting of pineapples in different seasons, both to stabilize income and avoid the situation of "good harvest, low price".

Thanh Toan