Many establishments across Da Nang’s Hoa Vang District are on a high gear to produce such well-renowned, much sought-after specialities as green- skinned pomelos, cantaloupes and ‘cu kieu’ (pickled scallion heads), a species of wild onion commonly known as Chinese or Oriental onion to meet the surge in demand from customers for the upcoming much-awaited Tet 2021 (the Vietnamese Lunar New Year).

Ms Nguyen Thi Bong's family-run establishment specialising in processed ‘cu kieu’ products has recorded a bustling production ambiance in the buildup to Tet.

As Tet draws near at a fast pace, these days have witnessed large numbers of dedicated, hard-working farmers in Thach Nham Tay Village, Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District get actively involved in harvesting their bumper crops of ‘cu kieu’for sale to customers, especially small traders hailing from nationwide localities.

‘Cu kieu’ is one of the indispensable Tet delicacies.  The best pickled scallion heads are sour enough but still pungent and crunchy.

Vietnamese people usually eat them with a salty companion like dried shrimps, and sometimes with braised pork and traditional sticky rice cakes.

This species of wild onion is more drought-tolerant and less vulnerable to pestilent insects than other types of plants.

Moreover, ‘cu kieu’ crops boast higher productivity and lower production costs in comparison with paddy fields.

Ms Tran Thi Liẹn, one of the ‘cu kieu’ growers in the suburb commune’s Thach Nham Dong Village eagerly said she is looking forwards reaching about 40 million in profits from the sale of 2.5 tonnes of ‘cu kieu’ grown on an cultivation area of about 1,000m².

Nearby, Ms Nguyen Thi Bong's family-run establishment specialising in processed ‘cu kieu’ products has seen a bustling production ambiance over recent days leading to the special occasion.

It is known that this establishment's products are recognised to meet the food hygiene and safety standards such as VietGAP, or Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices, a set of principles for sustainable and safe agricultural production approved by the Vietnamese government.

According to traditional medicine, the ‘cu kieu’ roots can provide extra body’s warmth, and they are really good for digestion and urination.

But most diners just care about its mouth-watering taste which helps moderate many rich dishes served in parties after parties during the festival.

Another feature product in Hoa Vang District, pomelos boasting exceptional quality and mildly sweet taste have seen an increasing consumption in the buildup to Tet.

The Vietnamese have a custom of buying fruit as a religious offering and ornament during the holiday, and pomelos are amongst the most favourite.

In the 1-hectare garden owned by farmer Phan Van Huu in Trung Nghia village, Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, more than 200 green grapefruit trees are being experimentally planted based on the application of technical advances for higher productivity.

According to Huu, a total of nearly 1 tonne of green-skinned pomelos have been sold at about 60,000 VND per kg. Over recent days, Huu has also received high volumes of orders for this delicious type of fruit.

In a similar bustling vein, Director of the Hoa Nhon Commune-based Nhon Phuoc Mushroom Cooperative Nguyen Van Nhi said that this product has won the high trust of consumers from Da Nang and elsewhere across the country.

As compared to last year, the prices of mushrooms in the local market have increased slightly by 5,000 - 10,000 VND per kg, which makes mushroom growers very excited.

For the time being, the average monthly output of the cooperative is about 1.2 tonnes of mushrooms.

By VAN HOANG- Translated by A.T