Longans are building the 'King Longans' brand in the United States and Australia

Success from a loyal partnership

Thoi Hung Commune, Co Do District, has long been known as a major longan-growing area in Can Tho City. Among them, Trang Ti Garden Fruit Cooperative is gradually establishing a stable and sustainable export value chain.

With an area of 80 hectares, the cooperative supplies about 640 tons of Thoi Hung longans annually to the market. Nearly half of this volume meets export standards for demanding markets.

Trang Ti Garden is gradually transitioning from traditional production to a VietGAP-standard model, moving towards organic practices and planning to invest in an additional 20 hectares meeting GlobalGAP standards, opening new opportunities for Thoi Hung longan farmers.

Mr. Tran Phuoc Son, Director of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative, shared his experience: “Producing according to export standards has helped farmers change their mindset about agriculture. Previously, farmers used fertilizers and pesticides arbitrarily with inconsistent techniques. But now, from fertilization to pruning and care, everything must follow strict procedures. The longans are more uniform, round, and free from pest damage. Harvesting methods have also changed - each fruit must be cut individually instead of breaking whole branches like before.”

This transformation has had a direct impact on the income and living standards of the farmers. Thanks to the ensured quality, export-grade longans are sold at prices 40–50% higher than those in the domestic market (depending on the time).

In 2024 - the year Trang Ti Garden Cooperative was established, thanks to a close partnership with Vina T&T Trading – Import Export Service Co., Ltd. (Vina T&T Group), Thoi Hung longans have gained entry into the U.S. and Australian markets.

Both parties did not focus much on price negotiations but instead set strict quality requirements and commitments to compliance. The enterprise provides the specifications, and the cooperative organizes production; fruits meeting the standards are purchased for export, while those that do not meet the standards are sold domestically.

“The partnership between the cooperative and Vina T&T Group is very loyal. The company not only purchases the products but also plays a role in providing technical support, setting standards, and accompanying the cooperative throughout each harvest season,” said Mr. Tran Phuoc Son.

After just one year of operation, the cooperative has exported approximately 60 tons of longans to the U.S. and Australian markets. Export volume is expected to increase to 300 - 400 tons in 2025. Mr. Son hopes to expand partnerships with more enterprises to ensure stable consumption, especially during peak seasons when production volume rises.

A strategic step to protect the Vietnamese brand

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung, General Director of Vina T&T Group, the company has partnered closely with the cooperative for six harvest seasons to research, improve product quality, and build the brand “King Longans – The king of all longans” exclusively for export-grade Thoi Hung longans.

Mr. Tung takes pride in the Thoi Hung longan variety due to its superior quality compared to many other longan varieties worldwide. This is also what drives his determination to introduce Thoi Hung longans to numerous partners around the globe.

However, according to Mr. Tung, for Thoi Hung longans to penetrate deeply into distribution systems in the U.S. and Australia, obtaining international certifications such as GlobalGAP is mandatory - a matter of survival.

In the context of increasingly stringent inspection and quarantine requirements in importing markets, Mr. Tung believes that producing according to GlobalGAP standards not only helps the longans "clear the barriers" but also serves as a strategic step to protect the reputation of Vietnamese fruit brands.

Although the company spends hundreds of millions of VND annually to renew the GlobalGAP certification, the benefits are substantial. Vina T&T Group commits that when farmers produce according to GlobalGAP standards, their purchase price will be at least 2,000 VND/kg higher than the market price. More importantly, farmers’ products are guaranteed in quality and can easily enter major supermarket chains and wholesale markets worldwide.

Notably, while Vina T&T Group holds the certification, the products still belong to the farmers. The company acts solely as a bridge for consumption and market expansion. In cases where the company cannot purchase the entire volume of certified produce, farmers can still sell through other commercial channels thanks to their "GlobalGAP passport."

The director of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative added that the cooperative is striving to expand partnerships with multiple enterprises to build a more sustainable supply chain. As production volume increases, it is not feasible to rely on a single company.

It is expected that in 2025, the total export-standard Thoi Hung longan production of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative will reach approximately 400 tons, with the remaining quantity consumed domestically by the cooperative.

Despite ongoing challenges such as weather conditions, diseases, and production costs, the cooperative - enterprise linkage model following GlobalGAP standards has shown clear initial effectiveness. This approach is not only a path forward for Thoi Hung longans but also an inspiration for many other Vietnamese fruits on their journey toward international integration.

$ 1 = VND 26.026 - Source: Vietcombank.