The pineapple fields of Tan Thang commune in Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, are currently brimming with ripe, luscious fruits, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. Since mid-May, local farmers have been busy harvesting the pineapples and selling them to traders for distribution.
Mr. Ho Van Quang, a local farmer, excitedly shared that his family cultivates nearly 10 hectares of Queen pineapples, also known as “pineapple queens.” Thanks to favorable weather conditions this year, the pineapples have achieved high yields and excellent quality, reaching approximately 30 tons per hectare. By staggering the planting, Mr. Quang’s family started harvesting in early March, and so far, they have collected fruits from half of their fields. Traders purchase the pineapples directly from the fields and then transport them by car to cities and towns for sale.
“From the start of the season until now, traders have been offering good prices, ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 VND per kilogram, depending on the variety,” Mr. Quang said. “After deducting expenses, my family still earns hundreds of millions of VND in profit,” he added.
Hundreds of hectares of pineapples in Tan Thang commune are ready for harvest.
Ms. Tran Thi Minh, another farmer from Tan Thang, recently sold her harvest of nearly one hectare of pineapples to traders at a price of 7,000 VND per kilogram, earning her almost 250 million VND per hectare. “This year, the pineapples are abundant, with large, uniform, and attractive fruits. They are also sweeter, yielding 35-40 tons per hectare. We are delighted because the prices have increased during this peak harvest season, and traders are buying in bulk directly from the fields for 7,000-8,000 VND per kilogram,” Ms. Minh shared enthusiastically.
Tan Thang farmers are delighted with the pineapple harvest and the good prices.
Since the beginning of May 2024, the prices of “pineapple queens” in Quynh Luu, Nghe An, have surged to 8,000 VND per kilogram, bringing profits to the pineapple growers. Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, a trader who specializes in purchasing pineapples, shared: “Although the prices are high this year, many people are still competing to buy them. Last year at this time, the wholesale price was only 4,000-5,000 VND per kilogram, but now it has climbed to 7,500-8,000 VND per kilogram, and it’s still challenging to secure purchases.”
According to local farmers’ calculations, the investment cost for each hectare of pineapples is around 70-75 million VND. With the high yields of 35 tons per hectare, and even up to 40 tons per hectare with proper care, the current selling prices of 7,000-8,000 VND per kilogram will generate revenues of approximately 230 million VND. After deducting expenses, the profit reaches about 120-150 million VND per hectare.
Quynh Luu district has a total of 1,300 hectares of pineapples, mainly in Tan Thang, Quynh Thang, and Quynh Chau communes. Among them, Tan Thang alone accounts for over 1,100 hectares. In this area, 90% of the pineapples cultivated are the Queen variety, 7% are Cayen, and the remaining 3% are an American variety known for its exceptional sweetness. Out of Tan Thang’s total area, 310 hectares are dedicated to the second crop, which involves leaving the roots after the first harvest and selecting the strongest shoot to produce fruit. While this method may result in slightly lower yields compared to new plantings, it significantly reduces investment costs.
Additionally, Tan Thang has 70 hectares of pineapples grown with plastic mulch, which helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and facilitates fertilizer application directly to the roots, enhancing nutrient absorption and promoting faster growth.
Pineapples are harvested and purchased by traders directly from the fields at high prices.
Recognizing the pineapple as the commune’s primary crop, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tan Thang commune, shared: “Pineapple is our key crop. From the beginning of the year until now, our local ‘pineapple queen’ products have been in high demand, with prices increasing by 2,500-3,000 VND per kilogram compared to last year. As a result, the people are delighted with the abundant harvest and the good prices.”
