Can Tho longan harvest begins, with prices reaching VND 70,000/kg

These days, harvesting activities are in full swing across the longan-growing areas of Thoi Hung Commune. From early morning, local residents gather at orchards to pick, sort and pack the fruit, preparing consignments that meet export standards.

In the growing area operated by Trang Ti Garden Cooperative, dozens of local workers have been mobilized for the longan harvest. The work is divided into separate stages, including picking the fruit, transporting it to collection points, trimming, sorting and packing. Every stage follows the procedures established by the cooperative’s partner companies to ensure the fruit meets quality requirements before reaching the market.

Mr Tran Phuoc Son, Director of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative, said the cooperative is cultivating around 60 ha of longan this season. Of this area, 30 ha have received VietGAP certification and 20 ha have been certified under GlobalGAP standards. This year’s average yield is particularly strong at around 1.3-1.7 tons per 1,000 m². The cooperative expects to supply around 280 tons of GlobalGAP-certified fruit for export, with the remainder sold domestically.

Thanks to its compliance with export standards, the cooperative’s longan is purchased by partner companies for VND 60,000-70,000/kg. This is nearly double the selling price at some markets, providing growers with a profit margin of around 30-40%. It also encourages farmers to continue investing in and improving the quality of the growing area.

The family of cooperative member Phuong Van Su is cultivating around 26 ha of longan this season, with output estimated at approximately 140 tons. He said one factor helping the specialty fruit maintain strong prices is growers’ active management of staggered flowering between July and October. This allows the fruit to be harvested in separate batches, preventing simultaneous harvesting that could cause oversupply and difficulties in distribution.

“Longan for export must not only achieve high yields but also be consistent in quality. Therefore, from the beginning of the season, we must strictly control cultivation practices, maintain production records and use agricultural inputs in compliance with requirements” Mr Su said.

To qualify for export consignments, Can Tho longan must have a diameter of 2.9-4 cm, an attractive color and a ripeness level of around 80-90%. Partner companies also send technicians to supervise activities directly at orchards, from sorting the fruit and verifying cultivation records to checking whether the required pre-harvest intervals for agricultural inputs have been observed.

This process requires growers to comply with stricter standards, but in return, their products have stable outlets and higher value. It is also considered an important direction for improving the quality of Can Tho’s longan-growing areas and meeting increasingly stringent market requirements.

According to the Can Tho City Sub-department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the city currently has around 5,853 ha of longan orchards, producing approximately 66,670 tons. Longan has been identified as one of the city’s strategic fruit products, covering around 638 ha, with the largest area concentrated in Thoi Hung Commune at nearly 350 ha.

Longan has several advantages in terms of quality, including thick, firm flesh, low moisture, small seeds, mild sweetness and a distinctive aroma. Although it is grown for only one crop each year, the fruit has gradually established its position in the market and gained access to several demanding destinations, including the United States, Australia, Japan, the EU and China.

Can Tho City exports more than 3,000 tons of longan annually. To support exports, the city’s Sub-department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has issued 22 longan-growing area codes covering a total area of 258 ha.

$ 1 = VND 26,400 - Source: Vietcombank.