The region of Tuyen Quang, Vietnam, specifically in Xuan Van commune, Soi Ha grapefruit is an important product of the agricultural sector. It is distinguished by its light and thin yellow skin, juicy pieces with a sweet, sour taste is experiencing a dramatic change in the market’s pricing. In the past, Grade 1. Soi Ha grapefruit was available at a price of $0.69-$0.86 (16.000-20.000 VND) per pound, and sizes between 0.8 and 1.2 kilograms.
Recent developments have revealed the drastic drop in price as online sites offer fruits for less than a quarter of the cost it was originally and a drop by more than 80percent. Based on the experience of Mrs. Linh, a sales representative from the region current strategies include selling the fruits by bag and a box of 70 fruits selling for around $8.59 (199.000 VND) which is equivalent to $0.13 (3.000 VND) for each fruit. These are generally grade 2, 3 and 4, have a smaller size, yet they maintain their quality requirements. In cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the cost per fruit ranges between $0.43 up to $0.52 (10.000-12.000 VND).
Wholesalers from Hanoi like the Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, are faced with varying prices. smaller-sized fruit beginning from $0.09 (2.000 VND) for a bulk purchase. Market saturation in the peak harvest time, and the rise in Soi Ha grapefruit cultivation, is causing a excess, which has driven prices down. This is exacerbated by the simultaneous harvest of various other varieties of citrus across northern provinces.
Despite the current market conditions local farmers who are located in Xuan Van report stable prices for Soi Ha grapefruit in the garden, with the grade 1 grapefruit fetching upwards of $0.69 (16.000 VND) for each. Tuyen Quang’s Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection makes clear the distinctiveness in Soi Ha fruit in the context of an OCOP product and warns consumers against counterfeit, low-cost goods. The small area for cultivation of approximately 100 hectares within Xuan Van does not support the idea of exceptionally cheap market prices, highlighting the importance of vigilance for consumers.
Source: Vietnam.VN