Production down 70% due to storm
On the afternoon of January 14, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thieu (60 years old, from Thai Binh) was working alone in the middle of the Dung Huyen apple trellis garden with more than 200 trees in Dong Tien 2 residential group, Bang La ward.
After 10 years of picking apples for Dung Huyen garden, Mr. Thieu said that there has never been a year with such a low harvest of apples as this year. According to Mr. Thieu, at this time in previous years, apples were picked every day, a hundred kilograms of apples per day, but this year, he only picked apples every two days and only got a dozen kilograms.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen (50 years old, owner of the apple orchard) also said that in storm No. 3, 2 apple orchards with a total area of 6,000m2 and more than 300 apple trees were damaged. However, with decades of experience growing salted apples, her family quickly revived the apple orchard, producing flowers and fruits near the Lunar New Year.
“Compared to last year, this year’s apple output has decreased by 70%. However, my family is lucky to still have apples to sell during Tet, while many families this year lost everything and could not harvest,” Ms. Huyen shared.
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Kien - Chairman of Bang La Ward People's Committee - the total area of specialty salted apples grown in the ward is more than 120 hectares, most of which was damaged by the storm. After the storm, some people quickly implemented solutions to "save" the Tet apple crop, such as applying growth-enhancing fertilizers, cutting the tops of the apple trellis... Thanks to that, many apple orchards have "revived", although the yield has decreased, it has also somewhat reduced the damage for the people.
Tet apples are scarce, prices increase by 10,000-20,000 VND/kg
Due to the decrease in output, this year, the price of Bang La apples has increased compared to previous years. According to the owner of the apple garden, Dung Huyen, in previous years, the price of apples in the main season is about 25,000 VND/kg (buying back from the garden), and near Tet, the price increases to about 35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg. However, this year, the price of apples has increased.
At this time, the price of apples sold at Dung Huyen garden is 50,000 VND/kg, other gardens in the ward have prices ranging from 40,000 - 50,000 VND/kg. The quality of apples is assessed to still retain their characteristic flavor.
“The price is higher but the garden has no apples to sell, the apples are sold out as soon as they are picked. Many regular customers have called to order apples as gifts for Tet in large quantities but the garden does not dare to accept them, so we have to miss our appointment with customers this apple season” - the garden owner said.
According to Lao Dong reporters on January 16, at traditional markets in Hai Phong City, Bang La apples have begun to appear on fruit stalls. The price of apples ranges from 60,000 - 80,000 VND/kg depending on the quality of the apples.
Mr. Nguyen Van Nam - the owner of a fruit stall said - "Bang La apples are scarce, I have to rely on acquaintances to order a few kilos every day to sell to customers. It is expected that the closer to Tet, the more apple prices will increase, possibly up to 100,000 VND/kg. Although apples are more expensive than every year, people still love them because of the delicious, unique flavor of salted apples that cannot be found anywhere else."
