Deep processing of dragon fruit: A sustainable direction for farmers

Dragon fruit processing – solution for discarded fresh fruit

Dragon fruit has long been considered the main crop of Binh Thuan and neighboring areas. However, the refrain of "good harvest, low price" is always a haunting fear for growers. In many seasons, thousands of tons of dragon fruit that do not meet export standards are forced to be sold off at low prices, even traders do not buy, farmers have to throw them away. Besides, in the main season or the lighting season, the number of dragon fruit buds blooming is very large, but people often have to break them off, leaving only a few fruits on a pillar to ensure the tree grows good fruit and the fruit is of high quality for export. The number of dragon fruit buds that people throw away after each season is very large. In that context, deep processing has opened up a new direction, helping to solve output and stabilize the value of agricultural products.

Dragon fruit buds have now been processed into many products that are loved by users.

In 2016, a businessman in Ho Chi Minh City, after seeing dried dragon fruit flowers appearing in foreign supermarkets, decided to establish Hoa Ba Vuong Company Limited in Tan Thuan Commune, Ham Thuan Nam District (now Tan Thanh Commune, Lam Dong Province) - a large dragon fruit growing area of the province. The company invested in a modern drying line, purchased dragon fruit buds about 20 days old, chopped them into small pieces and dried them. The finished product retains its eye-catching color, natural flavor and almost intact nutritional content.

Statistics show that the total dragon fruit area in Lam Dong blue sea region is currently about 27,000 hectares, accounting for nearly 40% of the total area of the country, with an output of 520,000 tons, an increase of 7% over the same period in 2024.

As soon as it was launched, the product was quickly recognized by foreign markets. Initially exported through intermediaries to China, it was then available in many international supermarkets. From an initial facility, up to now, there have been 5 enterprises and cooperatives participating in the production of dried dragon fruit buds. The source of raw materials at times is not enough to meet the processing needs. This activity has significantly increased farmers' income, turning the little-noticed flower buds into high-value commodities.

The annual output of dragon fruit is very large.

It can be said that deep processing has "rescued" a large part of the dragon fruit that does not meet export standards, minimizing damage to growers, and at the same time opening up a sustainable direction for specialty crops of this sunny and windy land.

Deep processing helps elevate the brand of Binh Thuan dragon fruit

In recent times, many enterprises and cooperatives have boldly invested in equipment, machinery, and applied science and technology to process dragon fruit products. In particular, Hoa Le Clean Dragon Fruit Cooperative (Ham Thuan Commune, Lam Dong Province) is one of the leading units in deep processing, contributing to increasing the value of dragon fruit. Hoa Le Clean Dragon Fruit Cooperative invested in deep processing to create 17 diverse products from dragon fruit. Of which, 12 products achieved 3-star OCOP, 3 products were recognized as typical rural industrial products at the provincial level and 2 products: Dragon fruit flower tea and Dried dragon fruit flowers were recognized as typical rural industrial products at the regional level in 2024.

Up to now, the entire Lam Dong green sea region has 45% of dragon fruit production area according to VietGAP standards, 12% of dragon fruit production area according to GlobalGAP standards and 300 hectares of organic standards.

Deep processing of dragon fruit will help make use of the quantity of dragon fruit that does not meet export standards.

Hoa Le Clean Dragon Fruit Cooperative is developing typical products such as: dried dragon fruit, dried dragon fruit flowers, dragon fruit flower tea, wine, juice, cookies, jam, essential oils. In addition, Hoa Le Clean Dragon Fruit Cooperative is also developing fermented products from dragon fruit such as: Wine, red dragon fruit juice... These products also create a difference, bringing clear added value.

Thanks to the application of science and technology and the diversification of products, increasing income for members, the number of members of Hoa Le clean dragon fruit cooperative has continuously increased. From only 9 members when it was first established, the cooperative has now grown to 19 official members, 30 associate members and 4 chain-linked cooperatives. With 200 hectares of cultivated area, dragon fruit output reaches about 5,000 tons/year. Of which, 90% of dragon fruit is exported to demanding markets such as the US, EU, Japan, Korea, Central Asia; the remaining 10% serves the domestic market and deep processing.

Many products processed from dragon fruit have gained a foothold in the market.

Not only products, the cooperative also uses the clean dragon fruit garden as an experiential tourism destination. Domestic and foreign tourists can visit the garden and enjoy dishes made from dragon fruit, thereby contributing to promoting the brand and enhancing the competitiveness of local agricultural products. Thanks to this direction, Hoa Le clean dragon fruit cooperative has created jobs for more than 100 local workers, of which 70% are women, with a stable income of 7-10 million VND/month. Clearly, deep processing not only helps increase product value but also contributes to sustainable socio-economic development in the locality.

If invested and linked, dragon fruit products can become the province's key agricultural product in the coming time.

From the success of companies and cooperatives processing dragon fruit products, it can be seen that the dragon fruit processing industry is opening up great prospects. Dragon fruit is not only exported as fresh fruit but has become a rich source of raw materials for many high-value products. In the future, if there is a connection with strong agricultural processing enterprises in Lam Dong, the market for dragon fruit processed products will be even wider. At that time, dragon fruit trees will no longer depend on the risky export of fresh fruit but can "transform" into dozens of rich products, meeting the diverse needs of domestic and foreign consumers.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/thanh-long-che-bien-sau-huong-di-ben-vung-cho-nong-dan-393919.html