OCOP flavors on New Year holidays

From a local specialty, Van An cai hoa vang sticky rice in Chi Linh is beautifully packaged for presentation as a gift on Tet occasion

These days, Thanh Binh gio cha (boiled and grilled pork pies) production facility of Tran Duc Binh in Cam La hamlet, Dong Lac commune, Nam Sach district, is always crowded with customers.

In addition to five regular employees, he has hired five more laborers for production to meet consumers’ needs.

The facility makes various kinds of gio cha with about 1 quintal of pork on a normal day but 2 – 3 times higher on a day near Tet. This is also the only facility in Nam Sach district that has a cha lua (boiled pork pie) product granted a 3-star OCOP certificate.

The gio cha making profession of Binh’s family originated from the nationally famous Uoc Le gio cha village in Ha Noi.

With more than 50 years of experience, to Binh, the most important things to retain customers are not only delicious products but also food safety.

At the Agricultural Service Cooperative of Van An ward, Chi Linh city, production activities are equally bustling. To serve this Tet, the cooperative has provided about 10 tons of cai hoa vang sticky rice for the market.

Rice is packed in 2 kg zip bags beautifully designed. All rice bags have traceability stamps and satisfy all food safety and hygiene conditions.

From a tribute for kings, cai hoa vang sticky rice has become a 3-star OCOP product and one of meaningful Tet gifts of Van An residents.

Cocofood is a chain of agricultural product stores in Hai Duong that sells many OCOP products, especially fresh vegetables, tubers, and fruits, rice, etc. On this occasion, all stores have increased 30% of vegetables and fruits to meet consumers’ needs.

“Our stores are selling about 20 3- and 4-star OCOP products. As Tet is drawing near, the chain sells about 2 quintals of vegetables, tubers, and fruits each day. Products that have achieved OCOP certificates are the bestsellers,” said Mai Xuan Thinh, Director of Cocofood Agricultural Product Chain Cooperative.

Thanh Binh gio cha production facility in Dong Lac commune, Nam Sach district, increases its capacity to meet customers’ needs during Tet

There are 226 OCOP products in the province, including two products likely to achieve a 5-star certificate, Queen Thanh Ha Lychee and Hoang Gia mung bean cake, 87 4-star products, and 137 3-star ones.

The products are diverse and belong to many groups. Many of them are traditional local specialties with strong Tet flavors, such as incense, Tan Hung gio cha, Tu’s gio lua, An Lac chung and day (square and round sticky rice) cakes, Linh Duong rice wafer, gac (Momordica cochinchinensis) wafer, etc.

Pham Thi Dao, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said to help consumers use OCOP products during Tet, the department has funded part of the cost to promote the opening of stores selling OCOP products in districts, cities, and the provincial town.

The department has also shared information about OCOP products with provinces and the Central OCOP management group to connect products packed as Tet gifts; provided information about OCOP products and invited entities to a spring fair in Chi Linh, a spring OCOP fair in Quang Ninh province, another spring fair of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, etc.

Pure OCOP gift baskets also help entities have more opportunities to boost production and introduce products to consumers than retail.

This is also an opportunity for consumers to know OCOP products more and for local products’ position to improve.

HIEN LAN