Bac Ha plums: From highland delicacy to sustainable OCOP product

Tam Hoa plums from Bac Ha, a famed delicacy of Lao Cai, are known for their crisp texture, mild sweetness, and rich flavor of the Northwest mountains. Due to the short harvest season, Quang Tom Cooperative (Bac Ha commune, Lao Cai province) has been collecting fresh plums and processing them using soft-drying technology, preserving their natural color and flavor while extending shelf life to 6–12 months. Each year, the cooperative supplies about 10 tonnes of 3-star OCOP-certified soft-dried plums to the market, generating jobs for 10 local workers and stable income for 7 cooperative members. This is not only an effective economic solution and sustainable market channel, but also a way to enhance the value of local agricultural products and promote the regional brand of Northwest specialties. Photo: Hoang Hieu – VNA