Chi Ca seedless persimmon season

BHG - In the border commune of Chi Ca (Xin Man District), seedless persimmons are in harvest season, covering the mountain slopes in brilliant yellow. With a total planting area spanning nearly 34 hectares, only around 4 hectares of persimmons have been harvested. Chi Ca Commune is making efforts to preserve and develop seedless persimmons, of which Chi Ca Ha Village is the location with the largest number of plants. Vuong Van Kinh, the first person to bring seedless persimmons to the village, has been planting them since 1995 and found that this type of tree is very suitable for the soil conditions here, bringing a stable income for his family. Following in his footsteps, many other households have also begun to replicate the seedless persimmon growing model.

Nong Thanh Tung from Chi Ca Village harvests seedless persimmons.

Chi Ca persimmons are popular for their high quality, often round, golden yellow, sweet, and crunchy. Notably, persimmons are grown naturally, without the use of preservatives. Although productivity has decreased this year due to unfavourable weather, many persimmon gardens in Chi Ca Ha still bear fruit, ensuring income for the people. Nong Thanh Tung, a local resident, said that his family has 7 persimmon trees, with each crop bringing in more than 10 million VND. Traders often buy the whole garden, helping people save on transportation costs.

The selling price of seedless persimmons ranges from 20,000 to 25,000 VND/kg (soaked in water) and from 10,000 to 12,000 VND/kg (fresh fruit). The main harvest season is at the end of September, when traders come to buy directly from the garden. According to village chief Vuong Van Thuong, each household in Chi Ca Ha has from 10 to 15 persimmon trees. The persimmon output is mainly consumed at markets in Xin Man District and provinces such as Hanoi and Hai Phong.

Chi Ca residents also share their experiences in processing seedless persimmons. When harvesting, the fruit must be kept intact so that it does not spoil when soaked. Fresh persimmons after harvest will be soaked in warm water for 3 to 5 days, changing the water regularly to ensure crispness and delicious flavour.

Lu Van Tinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Chi Ca Commune, said that the commune is coordinating with the district’s professional agencies to develop OCOP products for seedless persimmons and expand the planting area and link output, making seedless persimmons a key crop, thus contributing to increasing income for people.