Produce supply-demand connection boosted

With over 130 booths and the participation of more than 80 enterprises and cooperatives from Hanoi and 18 provinces, including Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Son La, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Quang Ngai, Hai Phong, Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Bac Giang, Binh Thuan, Bac Kan, Nghe An, Quang Nam, and Hau Giang, the 2023 fruit, farm produce week in Hanoi promoted the trade in seasonal fruits and agricultural products such as lychees, mangoes, regional specialties, and OCOP (One Commune One Product) products. It also supported businesses and cooperatives in selling their products, effectively implemented the “Buy Vietnamese Goods” campaign, stimulated consumer demand, and increased the overall retail sales of the city.

Vietnamese agricultural products are being prominently sold at Co.opMart Tam Ky supermarket - Photo: Viet Nguyen

Bringing a variety of Moc Bac dairy products, such as yogurt and sticky rice yogurt, Pham Thi Lien, the representative of Moc Bac Milk and Dairy Cattle Breeding Joint Stock Company located in Moc Bac Commune, Duy Tien Town, Ha Nam Province, stated that her company’s products are currently available in the WinMart supermarket chain and 180 clean food stores in Hanoi. By participating in various trade fairs, including the fruit, farm produce week in Hanoi, the company aimed to further connect with customers and expand its market.

During the fruit, farm produce week in Hanoi, the presence of lychees was essential as the harvest season has started. Dang Thi Ly from the Thanh Cuong Agricultural Services Cooperative (Hai Duong) introduced both red-heart and white-heart lychees to consumers in the capital city. Despite a reduced harvest this year, pricing has been favorable, with early-season lychees priced between VND70,000 and 90,000 per kilogram. These lychee products from Hai Duong are available in supermarkets across Nam Dinh, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces and are also exported to Japan and the Republic of Korea. Ly emphasized the compliance of their lychees with the VietGAP standards, their organic production methods, and a selling price ranging from VND15,000 to 20,000 per kilogram, which is higher than conventional production.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Acting Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, emphasized that in recent years, the city has actively provided support to provinces and cities in promoting, introducing, and connecting fruits, agricultural products, and specialties to the Hanoi market. This has been achieved through the organization of over 100 trade events, fairs and weekly markets. Major businesses in Hanoi, such as Aeon, Central Group, and MM Mega Market, have played a crucial role in distributing products with unique strengths from various provinces. These businesses have also offered consultation and support in terms of design, packaging, and modern distribution channels.

Fruits and agricultural products from the city are not only consumed locally but also have opportunities for international distribution. For example, they have been successfully introduced to Aeon supermarkets in Japan and Central Group in Thailand.

Lan evaluated Hanoi as a significant market for consuming fruits, agricultural products, and OCOP items, considering the city’s population of 10.7 million people.

Experts suggest that organizing fruit and agricultural product weeks during the harvest season, when there is a high production volume that needs to be quickly consumed, can greatly benefit farmers in terms of increasing product output and connecting with modern distribution channels. Furthermore, it allows consumers in the capital city to access and identify the designs, brands, and origins of the products.