Tuyen Quang agricultural products to the European market

7 OCOP products of Tuyen Quang are exported to the UK market – a demanding market with strict regulations on plant quarantine, quality management, traceability and food safety and hygiene.

This is considered the first step to pave the way for the province’s agricultural products to appear in the European market.

From Soi Ha grapefruit

The grapefruit garden of Mr. Do Khac Thoa’s family in Soi Ha village, Xuan Van commune, Yen Son district is one of the grapefruit gardens selected for export to the UK market. With an area of ​​over 4 hectares, for many years now, grapefruit trees have brought high income to Mr. Thoa’s family, although they are only consumed in the domestic market and are not yet known to many consumers.

To meet the requirements of a demanding market like the UK, Soi Ha grapefruit must ensure a Brix sweetness of 11.5 degrees or higher, be juicy, have an even yellow color, no dark spots, no insect bites… Grapefruit weighs from 1 – 1.2 kg/fruit and is tested for pesticide residues 2 weeks before harvest, with a certificate of meeting European residue standards. The fact that Xuan Van commune’s Soi Ha grapefruit was exported to Europe for the first time brought hope to Mr. Thoa and the grapefruit growers here because it not only raised the brand of agricultural products but also helped grapefruit growers increase their income.

Mr. Thoa said that in order to meet the standards and quality of the import market, from the beginning of the season, his family implemented the grapefruit tree care process according to VietGAP standards. At the same time, he coordinated with the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuyen Quang province) to control the entire process from fertilization to pruning to create grapefruits of the best quality, safety, and meeting export standards.

Xuan Van commune currently has over 1,000 hectares of grapefruit; of which, nearly 200 hectares are Soi Ha grapefruit. In 2017, Soi Ha grapefruit was voted by the Vietnam Consumers Association as one of the Top 10 famous brands and trademarks. In 2021, the Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) officially granted geographical indication certification.

Mr. Le Hong Viet, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Xuan Van Commune, Yen Son District (Tuyen Quang) shared that exporting grapefruit to the European market requires many criteria on food safety and environmental protection. The commune government has promoted the process of planting and caring for grapefruit according to VietGAP and organic standards to help export products meet the criteria on size, color, and sugar content in accordance with the regulations and standards set by the European market. For the first time, Soi Ha grapefruit was exported to a demanding market like the UK, not only affirming the brand of the product but also of Tuyen Quang’s agricultural products, bringing significant income to grapefruit growers in the area. Thereby, contributing to increasing income, improving people’s lives, and firmly consolidating the income criteria for building new rural areas.

Opportunities for Tuyen Quang’s agricultural products

Binh Minh Organic Agricultural Products Cooperative, Tu Quan Commune, Yen Son District also has 2 products that meet the strict criteria for export to the UK market, which are guava tea and male papaya flowers soaked in honey. Established and put into operation since August 2022, the cooperative operates in the field of processing agricultural products. Currently, the cooperative’s products are being supplied to supermarkets in the province and provinces and cities such as Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, etc.

Mr. Do Thanh Kim, Deputy Director of Binh Minh Organic Agricultural Products Cooperative, said that this is a joy and a premise for the cooperative to continue to improve and enhance the quality of its products. In the coming time, the cooperative will build more factories, purchase more machinery and equipment, and connect with cooperatives and export units to have more products that are eligible for export to a potential but also challenging market like the European market.

Through the investigation and survey of R.Y.B Joint Stock Company (Hanoi), the company highly appreciated the quality of Tuyen Quang’s OCOP products and introduced and offered over 50 key products, specialties, and OCOP products of the province to the markets of European countries such as: England, France, Germany… Thanks to the strict testing process on quality and food hygiene and safety, 7 agricultural products of Tuyen Quang province were selected for export to the UK, including: Guava tea products, male papaya flowers soaked in honey of Binh Minh Organic Agricultural Products Cooperative; dried banana products of Chieu Yen Clean Banana Cooperative; green-heart black bean tea bags of Hong Phat Organic Cooperative; lemon syrup and kumquat syrup products of Minh Thao Agricultural Products and Medicinal Herbs Cooperative and Soi Ha grapefruit products of Xuan Van Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thanh Huong, Director of R.Y.B Joint Stock Company (Hanoi), Tuyen Quang is a province with many quality OCOP products, made from natural materials, processed and packaged according to standards, so the products have great potential for export to the European market. In particular, products that are suitable for market demand and the company will guide people to produce according to the criteria of partners, improve quality criteria, meet technical standards to be able to bring products to the import market.

After more than 5 years of implementing the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, Tuyen Quang province currently has 248 products certified with OCOP from 3 stars or higher; 32 safe food supply chains; 107 products granted protection certificates by the Department of Intellectual Property; over 200 products have origin traceability stamps; 4 products are granted geographical indication protection… Products recognized and ranked as OCOP continue to be given priority in promotional activities, trade promotion, support to put on e-commerce platforms, and connect to safely consume products on e-commerce platforms such as: Sendo, Voso, PostMart, Cuccu, Shopee…

Mr. Nguyen Dai Thanh, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuyen Quang province, affirmed that the 7 products that have just been exported to the European market are an affirmation of the quality and brand of agricultural products of Tuyen Quang province. This is also the initial result of the production of quality agricultural products with an export orientation to bring Tuyen Quang agricultural products to foreign markets.

In the coming time, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in the province will continue to strengthen production direction, create quality-assured raw material areas, and support food safety certification for raw material areas. At the same time, apply production according to standards and regulations such as: VietGAP, organic, GLOBAl GAP, ISO certification according to international standards, ensuring quality standards for export. In addition, support producers to improve the quality, product packaging design, traceability stamps; promote trade promotion, develop the market for agricultural products; Bringing products to shopping malls, supermarkets and e-commerce trading floors…

Tuyen Quang’s successful export of OCOP products to demanding markets such as the UK is an important premise for the province to have a methodical plan in developing key products and local specialties and opening up opportunities for Tuyen Quang agricultural products to reach the international market.

Source: https://bnews.vn/nong-san-xu-tuyen-sang-thi-truong-chau-au/355540.html