Phuc Trach grapefruit season
Thursday, 03/09/2015 09:36 (GMT+7)
The grapefruits planted in Phuc Trach commune, Huong Khe district in the central province of Ha Tinh has become a specialty of the province for its famous high quality.
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Of 24 communes in Huong Khe district, the grapefruits are often planted in Phuc Trach, Huong Trach and Loc Yen communes. Each family has at least 5 trees. According to Tran Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Phuc Trach communal People’s Committee, 70% of 1,600 families in the commune plant grapefruit trees on an area of several hundred hectares. |
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The harvesting season starts from mid-July to late August of the lunar calendar. Each tree produces 50-100 fruits. The trees are often kept for around 12 years
before being replaced. |
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Each fruit weighs from 0.9 to 1.2 kilograms, some weighing 1.5 kilograms. They are sold to enterprises, agents or traders. |
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Each fruit is sold at VND60,000-VND100,000, said Ms Be. “As I plant the fruits on a small area, I only earn around VND10 million each season. For families who produce the fruits on a large scale, they can earn tens of millions of VND each season,” she said. |
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Mature fruits are protected from the sun by paper. |
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According to Nguyen Thi Quy, 46, each tree costs several hundred thousand of VND to be cared for. |
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Harvesting fruit is done manually. |
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Phuc Trach grapefruits are considered a strategic kind of plant for local economic development. According to the Phuc Trach communal People’s Committee Chairman, the fruits bring about huge profits for the commune. “We are encouraging residents to plant the grapefruits by assisting each planter with VND10,000-30,000 for each tree". |
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Phuc Trach grapefruits are sweet with a typical perfume. People in Ha Tinh province often buy the fruits as gifts for their friends and colleagues as they are considered
a precious specialty. |