The 50-hectare San Tien pink plum orchard, situated in An Quoi hamlet, Cu Lao Dung commune, serves as the region's primary large-scale plum cultivation area.

The orchard features substantial investment, utilizing technology in both management and production. With Tet approaching, the first harvest of the year is underway, preparing initial deliveries for the domestic market.

Tran Van Phuc began researching this plum variety in 2018, achieving successful cultivation by 2023.

From early morning, dozens of local workers meticulously inspect each plum cluster before harvest and transport to the warehouse. Only ripe fruits, exhibiting a deep red color, clear veins, and no pests, are selected. The task, while not strenuous, demands precision to ensure uniform quality.

Vo Thi Thuy, an orchard worker, checks plum color before harvesting. She stated she has worked here for over two years, primarily picking and packing. Approximately 5 days before harvest, plum samples undergo residue testing to ensure food safety.

Following harvest, San Tien pink plums undergo sorting, cleaning, stemming, foam wrapping, and boxing at the warehouse. Each fruit is carefully inspected to remove substandard items, ensuring quality for distant transport. San Tien pink plums are crisp, dense, delicately sweet, and mildly fragrant, with twice the sweetness of An Phuoc plums. Organic cultivation promotes vibrant color and allows for storage up to 30 days in cold conditions, making them suitable for long-distance shipping and export.

Each plum features a QR code for traceability, managed by a digitized system. From the initial bagging stage, each product is numbered, enabling the orchard owner to track output, monitor quality, and plan sales effectively, thus meeting the demands of discerning markets.

As Tet approaches, approximately 4 tons of San Tien pink plums are dispatched to Hanoi and TP HCM.

Phuc stated that current production satisfies only 40% of demand. The orchard anticipates supplying 200-300 tons annually, harvested in two cycles. This plum variety, developed since 2018, boasts high sweetness, excellent salinity tolerance, and aligns with the demand for clean, high-value agricultural produce.

San Tien pink plums are large, with premium fruits weighing around 250 grams each. Prices range from 150,000-230,000 dong per kg, generating an annual revenue of approximately 3 billion dong per hectare. The orchard typically achieves stable profits after about three years.

The owner plans to export to England, France, South Korea, and the Middle East.

The plum harvest, coinciding with Tet, provides stable employment and income for over 40 local workers. Earning approximately 170,000 dong per day, many utilize overtime to supplement their income, covering living costs and preparing for Tet.

Chuc Ly