VietNamNet Bridge – Farmers who grow Thúng grapefruit in My Tho City in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tien Giang expect to earn a good profit during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday season.

Thung grapefruit grown by a farmer in Tien Giang Province’s My Tho City weighs between five and seven kilogrammes and sells for around VND1 million (US$43.1). — VNS Photo Ngoc Diep

The grapefruit, which looks like a thúng (a large basket), weighs 5-7kg each, far more than other kinds of grapefruit which weigh over 1kg each.

Ngo Van Tam, 64, who has about 20 Thúng grapefruit trees in the city’s Dao Thanh Commune, said this year he would provide about 140 fruit for the Tet market.

"When ripening the green-skin grapefruit develops a yellow skin and pink flesh and sour taste. It is commonly used as a decoration or gift during Tet," he said.

Every year, many traders and people come to his garden to buy the big grapefruit, but he refused to sell them.

He only sells his Thúng grapefruit to a company in HCM City that places deposits to buy all of his ripe fruit for VND900,000 to VND1 million (US$38.8-43.1) each one week before Tet.

Each year, he earns a profit of over VND100 million ($4,310), he said. “Thanks to this, my family has a good condition to welcome a warm and happy Tet.”

He bought the seedlings from Chau Thanh District’s Long An Commune in the province nearly 10 years ago. After three years of growing, the trees will bear fruit, he said.

“There are many people who try to grow this type of grapefruit, but not many people can be successful,” Tam said.

The fruit ripens eight to nine months after flowering, producing only one crop a year which he harvested for Tet.

Farmers need about seven to 10 fruit per tree to ensure product quality and long-term growth, he said.

Tam also uses the fruit at exhibitions on agricultural products in the city and neighbouring localities where visitors order seedlings.

He plans to expand his cultivation area, and is currently planting more 30 Thúng grapefruit trees.

by Ngoc Diep

Source: VNS