Fruits and flowers on high peak for Tet

At this time, many types of agricultural products and ornamental flowers have adorned themselves with new attire in preparation for the Lunar New Year. The decorative melons, ornamental flowers, apricot blossoms, orchids, and more are becoming more vibrant and dazzling than ever before.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Mai is at her orchid garden named Tinh Nguoi

Promising fruits

Engaged in meticulous pruning and cleaning of the greenhouse netted cucumber garden in the middle of the day, Mr. Dương Thanh Hữu (from Ben Giang hamlet, Phu An commune, Ben Cat town) - one of the renowned growers of netted cucumbers who meets VGAP standards, stated that the cucumber garden is being prepared for the upcoming sales on the 25th of the lunar month, with careful attention to achieve the highest quality.

This year in preparation for the Lunar New Year market and in addition to round watermelons, Mr. Huu also grows long, eye-catching yellow honeydew melons that are suitable for the taste of Tet celebrants. The outstanding advantage of watermelons and honeydew melons, highly appreciated by consumers, is their ability to be stored for a long time without affecting the quality. Each fruit weighs only 1.2 - 1.7kg, making it suitable for small families or as a luxurious and meaningful gift for the Tet holiday. With 5 spacious greenhouses covering approximately 1,000m2, cultivating Dutch cucumber varieties and Huynh Long pears, the expected supply for this year's Tet market is around 10 tons.

This year, he continues to incorporate mesh melons into the mold, creating gold bars with the words "fortune" and intricately carved calligraphy (prosperity - fortune)... The main products are supplied to the retail market with high demand. According to Mr. Huu, this is a favorable year for those who work with mesh melons for the Lunar New Year as the sunny weather will result in sweet, crisp, and firm fruits that fetch a good price.

To produce a pair of beautiful honeydew melons, it requires precise timing, meticulous care techniques, and a high rate of loss. The selling price must be higher than that of the farmers in order to make a profit. Currently, the price of honeydew melons is at 38,000 VND/kg, an increase of 13,000 VND/kg compared to normal days, but still lower than previous years (priced at 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg). The product has gained customer trust and promises future orders, which is very encouraging," said Mr. Huu.

Shaped cantaloupe garden at Ben Giang hamlet of Phu An commune in Ben Cat town

Pending for sales

The Tet flower market is now bustling, with a lively atmosphere of buying and selling at orchid gardens. Besides the prices, properly handling the orchids to bloom during the Tet holiday is an important factor that helps garden owners make a fortune. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Mai, owner of Tinh Nguoi orchid garden in Tan An ward, Thu Dau Mot city, said that in preparation for the Tet market, orchids must be carefully cared for several months in advance. Paying special attention to watering, nutrient supplementation, and monitoring harmful insects is crucial.

According to Ms. Mai, during these days, many customers come to inquire about prices quite a lot. Ms. Mai's orchid garden supplies to wholesale buyers in many places. To serve the Tet holiday in 2024, starting from the beginning of the lunar month of December, she is preparing tens of thousands of orchid plants to be potted. Not only abundant in variety, but also diverse in colors, the prices vary depending on the type and size of each orchid, ranging from 1 million to 2.5 million VND, including pots of orchids that can cost up to tens of millions of VND.

For apricot blossoms, as Tet approaches, gardeners in Binh Duong province are getting busier. Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu's apricot garden in Phu Tho ward, Thu Dau Mot city, is also preparing to pick the leaves of the apricot trees in time for Tet and bring them to the Thu Dau Mot Spring Flower Market for sale. This year, he is focusing on bonsai apricot trees, which range in price from 10 million to several tens of million VND per pot, in addition to those priced at 3-4 million VND per pot. The price varies depending on the shape, root, and age of the apricot tree.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, stated that in recent days there have been visitors inquiring about the product, however, purchasing power has not reached the levels of previous years. Mr. Hieu explained that the recent trend in buying is for customers to wait until the leaves are trimmed and new buds appear before making a purchase, in order to select high-quality and easily marketable plants. As a result, the market remains subdued. The peak season at the mai garden is usually divided into two phases: from the 15th of December, primarily serving businesses, and for individual customers, it typically starts from the 20th of December.

Reported by Thanh Hong – Translated by Vi Bao