The Journey of Elevating Bac Kan Apricot Trees into OCOP Products

The whole province of Bac Kan has about 700 hectares, with an output of over 3,000 tons/year. In Cao Ky commune, apricot trees are currently grown on an area of ​​over 400 hectares. Each crop, an apricot tree can yield 20 tons of apricots, the selling price ranges from 6,000-15,000 VND/kg, depending on the time.

In Cao Ky commune, Cho Moi district (Bac Kan), apricot trees are becoming a key crop with clear economic efficiency. Fresh apricots are harvested during the main season, with moderate ripeness, even size, and thick flesh.

Although, before 2015, apricot trees were neglected by growers due to lack of output. But now they have become a high-value export product of Bac Kan province.

Apricots in Bac Kan are processed cleanly and meet standards, not only for domestic consumption but also for access to demanding markets such as Japan. Here, apricots are processed into high-quality products for export to Japan. At the same time, Doan Ket Cooperative currently produces 4 special types of apricot jam: sweet and sour soft apricots, sweet and salty ginger apricots, tamarind apricots and salty apricots. The ingredients are all fresh ripe apricots, combined with local ingredients such as old ginger, clean salt, organic cane sugar - not only delicious but also have medicinal value according to Oriental medicine.

Currently, Ms. Trinh Thi Thu, Director of Doan Ket Cooperative in Cao Ky Commune, Cho Moi District, shares the application of natural drying processes in greenhouses, salting properly, ensuring food safety while still retaining the original sweet and sour taste. This is a big plus in the clean agricultural gift market. Ms. Trinh Thi Thu, Director of Doan Ket Cooperative, shared that the opportunity that brought her to apricots originated from a loving childhood memory. Growing up in the highlands of Bac Kan Province, her grandmother and mother used to let her enjoy ripe, fresh apricots just picked from the trees in the backyard. The mild, sour taste and characteristic aroma of wild apricots have been deeply imprinted in her mind as an indelible part of her memory.

As an adult, amidst the modern pace of life, she still remembers the taste of apricots from that day. Her love for apricots urged her to learn and research ways to process them in order to preserve and spread the original value of this specialty fruit of the highlands. From the first batches of apricots she tried in her small kitchen, she gradually perfected the production process, creating many products from fresh apricots such as: apricot jam, apricots soaked in honey, soft apricots... which both preserve the traditional flavor and ensure food hygiene and safety. For Ms. Thu, each product is not only the result of creativity and labor but also a way to preserve memories, spread local cultural identity and contribute to enhancing the value of her hometown’s agricultural products.

In particular, with the connection between enterprises, cooperatives, and people, the potential for developing apricot trees in Bac Kan province is still very promising. Mr. Dong Phuc Toan, Chairman of Cao Ky Commune People’s Committee, said that the commune currently has 327 hectares of apricot trees, with over 200 hectares of harvested area. In villages such as Na Nguoc, Hua Phai, Choc Toong, Tong Tang, Ban Pho, Na Ca 1, apricot trees have become the main crop helping people escape poverty and get rich. With vast apricot forests, which bloom beautifully during the blooming season, the commune is also planning to develop tourism products.

Apricots grow – Investment problem to affirm position

Apricot jam products of Doan Ket Cooperative (Cao Ky commune, Cho Moi district, Bac Kan province) have been recognized as 3-star OCOP at the provincial level since 2021. This is a testament to the quality and uniqueness of highland agricultural products.

Products processed from fresh apricots have been recognized as OCOP products.

Not only stopping at developing apricot products, Doan Ket Cooperative under the management of Ms. Trinh Thi Thu also actively contributes to the local economic development by creating stable jobs for more than 20 local workers. With continuous efforts in production, business and contributions to the community, for many years her family has been recognized as a good production and business household at the district level. In particular, in 2023, her family was honored to receive the title of good production and business household at the provincial level. Doan Ket Cooperative has also been recognized with many certificates of merit from all levels, from local to central, as a testament to the perseverance, dedication and right direction that Ms. Thu and the cooperative have built.

Despite initial progress, Bac Kan apricot trees are still facing many difficulties, especially in terms of capital to modernize the processing process, invest in packaging, labels and expand the consumption market.

In the coming time, the local government has identified apricot trees as one of the key development directions. The agency needs to continue to support people in terms of technology, connect consumption and encourage the construction of sustainable raw material areas.

With the efforts of the government and cooperatives, Bac Kan apricots will increasingly affirm their position, becoming a typical agricultural product with economic and cultural value of the Northwest highlands.