In recent days, at many supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City, Gia Lai watermelons are prominently displayed for sale in the fresh fruit area at quite low prices, attracting a large number of consumers.
At the Co.opmart supermarket system, Gia Lai watermelons are currently sold at a price of about 6,900 VND/kg. Many customers said that this price is quite accessible, so they actively buy more to support farmers.
Ms. Dang Thuy Anh (resident of Vuon Lai ward) said: "Seeing that watermelon prices are cheap and knowing that we are supporting farmers, my family buys more than usual. Watermelons are also quite fresh and sweet, so I buy them both to support farmers and to have more fruit for my family.
Similarly, Mr. Minh Quang (resident of An Phu ward) shared that his family regularly buys fruits at supermarkets and agricultural product support programs always receive consumer response.
As long as the supermarket clearly introduces the origin and reasonable price, people are very willing to buy to help farmers consume agricultural products" - Mr. Quang said.
Not only Co.opmart, many large retail systems have also quickly implemented programs to support the consumption of Gia Lai watermelons. With the motto of accompanying farmers, the GO! and Tops Market supermarket systems have implemented the program "Accompanying the consumption of Gia Lai watermelons".
Accordingly, red-flesh watermelons are sold without profit, at a price of about 7,500 VND/kg at GO! supermarkets in the Central region and 8,500 VND/kg at GO!, Tops Market supermarkets in the South and North.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van - Communications Director of Central Retail Vietnam Group, said that as soon as receiving information from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade and the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Industry and Trade about the difficulty in purchasing and consuming watermelons from farmers in Gia Lai province, the enterprise quickly implemented support solutions.
“We immediately assigned a purchasing team to work directly with local authorities and quickly implemented a companion program to support promoting the consumption of Gia Lai watermelons. At the same time, coordinate with suppliers to bring watermelons from supply in Gia Lai into the supermarket system” - Ms. Van said.
According to Ms. Van, this program is expected to contribute to helping watermelon prices stabilize again, and at the same time support hundreds of farming households to avoid the scene of a bumper crop but falling prices.
It is expected that within the framework of the program, the system will consume about 200 tons of Gia Lai watermelons, thereby contributing to solving output for products during the peak harvest period.
According to the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the total area of watermelon cultivation in the province is currently about 2,733.9 ha, of which the harvested area is about 288.4 ha, accounting for 10.55% of the total area, with an output of about 12,267 tons. The selling price at the field is currently fluctuating around 5,000-6,000 VND/kg.
However, the unharvested area is still quite large, about 2,412.5 ha, equivalent to 89.45% of the total cultivated area, expected to focus on harvesting in March and April 2026. The yield in localities is commonly from 38-50 tons/ha, so the output put on the market in a short time is forecast to increase sharply.
Through grasping the actual situation, the purchasing and consumption of watermelons in some localities is facing difficulties, prices are unstable and there is a risk of product congestion, affecting farmers' income.
Faced with this situation, the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Industry and Trade has issued a document requesting the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities; food processing and distribution enterprises; supermarkets, chain stores and markets nationwide to coordinate in supporting the connection of watermelon consumption in the locality.
