Custard apples at a local market in Chi Lăng District in the northern mountainous province of Lạng Sơn. — VNA/VNS Photos Vũ Sinh

LẠNG SƠN — Farmers markets are buzzing with activity due to the commencement of the custard apple harvest season in Chi Lăng District, located in the northern mountainous province of Lạng Sơn, which began nearly a fortnight ago.

Trịnh Quốc Huy, a fruit merchant who has been buying Chi Lăng custard apples from local farmers and selling them in Hà Nội for close to twenty years, mentioned that these custard apples are highly sought after by Hanoians owing to their naturally juicy texture and assured food safety.

Furthermore, he commented that the Chi Lăng custard apples are noticeably fresher, larger, and more attractive than those from other areas.

At present, traders are buying Chi Lăng custard apples at a wholesale price ranging from VNĐ35,000-50,000 (US$1.4-2) per kilo, based on their size.

The retail price for these custard apples stands between VNĐ55,000-60,000 ($2.2-2.4) per kilogramme. This reflects an uptick of VNĐ10,000-15,000 ($0.4-0.6) per kilogramme from the previous year, as reported by the Nhân dân (People) online newspaper.

Mã Văn Lét, who owns a custard apple orchard in Quán Thanh Village, situated in the district’s Chi Lăng Commune, stated that his harvest this year surpassed last year's yield.

He went on to share that he makes approximately VNĐ400 million ($16,440) annually from cultivating custard apples.

Kingdom of custard apples

A local grower harvests custard apples in his garden in Đồng Mỏ Town, Chi Lăng District, in the northern mountainous province of Lạng Sơn.

Chi Lăng District is renowned as the "kingdom" of custard apple trees, boasting a vast cultivation area of over 2,200ha. Notably, most Chi Lăng custard apple trees grow atop imposing limestone cliffs.

Each year, from August to early September, and more recently with an added harvest in October and November, local cultivators throughout the district find themselves particularly occupied during the harvest season.

Baskets filled with these custard apples, each weighing close to 50 kilos, are typically transported down the mountains via motorbikes or pulleys, navigating winding roads and sheer cliffs.

In earlier times, due to a lack of electricity, local cultivators had to resort to manual winches to move the custard apples to the lower regions. Nowadays, electric winches have alleviated much of the manual labour, making it easier for growers to transport their harvest from the mountainous terrains to the foothills.

The district's unique climate, coupled with the nutrient-dense soil of the limestone mountains, produces Chi Lăng custard apples that have a thin, soft skin and a thick, white, seed-scarce flesh. The skin of these custard apples peels away effortlessly. They offer a uniquely delightful taste, and their texture is noticeably firmer when consumed.

VietGap Standards

A local grower uses a winch to transport custard apples down to the foothills in Đồng Mỏ Town, Chi Lăng District, in the northern mountainous province of Lạng Sơn.

Since 2013, the district has adopted the cultivation of custard apples in line with the Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) standards.

As of now, nearly 700ha in the district are dedicated to growing custard apples in compliance with VietGAP standards.

In 2017, Chi Lăng custard apples were recognised among the top 50 speciality fruits of Việt Nam. Additionally, they were awarded the Việt Nam Agricultural Golden Brand in 2017 and the Gold Cup by the Việt Nam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2018.

To combat brand imitation, a specific planting area code has been assigned to the Chi Lăng custard apple across 40ha in both Lũng Than Village and Giáp Thượng 2 Village.

Lately, recognising the custard apple as a key agricultural product of the province, the local administration has decided to extend the cultivation areas to other districts.

This year's custard apple yield across the province is projected to achieve 105 tonnes per hectare.

Provided the price of the custard apple remains consistent with the start of the season, the province anticipates a total revenue from this fruit to be in the ballpark of VNĐ1.2-1.4 trillion ($49.3 -57.5 million), based on an estimated harvest of roughly 39,000 tonnes.

Local support

A local grower affixes a traceability stamp on custard apples in Đồng Mỏ Town, Chi Lăng District, in the northern mountainous province of Lạng Sơn.

Lăng Văn Thức, Secretary of the Chi Lăng Commune Youth Union, pointed out that yellow flies are detrimental insects that inflict harm on the custard apples.

In response, the union collaborated with the local agricultural department to host training sessions. These courses imparted knowledge about crop care, combating the detrimental yellow flies, and instructed local farmers on the use of modern techniques to ease farming tasks, and enhance both the yield and quality of custard apples, he mentioned.

Furthermore, the union has been instrumental in supporting the sale of custard apples by advertising them on social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook, and e-commerce sites such as voso.vn and postmart.vn.

Vũ Thị Viên, a member of the district’s Thanh Niên Cooperative, revealed plans to set up a channel on TikTok to engage a broader audience in the future.

Additionally, the district's People’s Committee has collaborated with several major supermarkets across the country to introduce custard apples to consumers via these supermarket distribution networks.

Moreover, on August 19, the district held an event to champion both the custard apples and the district's One Commune-One Product (OCOP) offerings within the province.

On August 24, a trade fair showcasing custard apples and other agricultural produce from Lạng Sơn Province took place in Hà Nội. This event was organised by the Trade Promotion Centre for Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department.

Beyond their domestic market achievements, there have been efforts to introduce Chi Lăng custard apples to international markets.

The provincial authorities have been motivating local growers to bolster the use of science and technology. They've been urged to establish a systematic approach to monitor the cultivation and care of the custard apple trees, ensuring safety and enhancing product quality to meet international standards. Emphasis has also been laid on packaging, preservation, and the incorporation of origin traceability stamps.

The overarching objective is to pave the way for these custard apples to be officially exported to rigorous international markets, including countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the United States. — VNS