In recent years, green bamboo shoots have suddenly become a "star" in the fruit market thanks to the bamboo shoots trend. The appeal of the dish has caused the price of green bamboo shoots to skyrocket, at times up to 100,000 - 150,000 VND/kg for unpeeled ones, from 450,000 - 550,000 VND/kg for peeled ones.
Ms. Lan (a trader at Tan An unit market, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city) shared that in the past, fruit stalls only took ripe mangosteen to sell. In the past 2 years alone, the demand for raw bamboo shoots has increased sharply, this trader has also followed the trend of finding a source of goods for consumption.
"The dish of chicken mangost grilled has become popular, from individual customers to restaurants and eateries, all are hunting for this fruit. This year, when the bamboo shoots are just in season, customers are also starting to buy. But green tangerines are not easy to find, only a few kilos of import. For 100,000 - 120,000 VND/kg, I sold out in a slice. While ripe bamboo shoots are only sold at prices ranging from 60,000 - 80,000 VND/kg" - Ms. Lan recounted.
Currently, mangrove gardens in the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta have begun to season. Market demand has increased, but the amount of green bamboo shoots supplied is small. Although realizing the great economic potential from selling green bamboo shoots at high prices, gardeners are also concerned that focusing on harvesting green bamboo shoots will affect the yield and quality of ripe fruit in the future.
Mr. Tran Van Tuan (a bamboo shoots grower in Chau Thanh A district, Hau Giang province) said that green bamboo shoots are not the fruit that can be harvested as much as ripe bamboo shoots. The harvest time for green bamboo shoots usually takes place when the fruit is old but not ripe. The number of fruits on each tree is also less than when it is ripe.
Before the harvest season, traders have come to ask to buy green bamboo shoots, the price ranges from 70,000 - 90,000 VND/kg, 30,000 VND/kg higher than ripe fruit. However, my garden mainly sells ripe fruit, and green duck is a refined variety, so the quantity is quite small, only a few hundred kilograms" - Mr. Tuan said.
With an area of 3,000m2 of bamboo shoots bearing fruit, Mr. Nguyen Van Nam (Phong Dien district, Can Tho city) shared that this year, traders continue to go to the garden to buy green bamboo shoots for 65,000 - 95,000 VND/kg, 20,000 VND/kg lower than last year.
"The price is quite good but I don't dare to sell all because I have to leave the fruit that has developed into ripe bamboo shoots for the next crop. In addition, green bamboo shoots are harvested more meticulously. If harvested too early, the fruit will not be crispy enough and have a characteristic sour taste. If picked too late, the fruit will start to turn to the ripening stage, losing the value of green tangerines" - Mr. Nam said.
