If in Cao Phong, the specialty is oranges, then in the Tan Lac region, there is a fruit that is no less in terms of quality and allure, and that is the red pomelo. For many years, this type of fruit has brought success to the local people in transforming the crop structure, contributing to the development of the region and providing tourists with the opportunity to purchase high-quality products.
The red pomelo is a distinctive variety of pomelo native to the homeland of Muong Bi, Tan Lac district, mainly grown in the communes of Tu Ne, Dong Lai, Thanh Hoi, Ngoc My, etc. Due to the favorable terrain with good water drainage, combined with the climate and soil conditions of the region, the red pomelo from Tan Lac possesses unique characteristics: an average fruit weight ranging from 0.6 to 1 kg, a round or occasionally pear-shaped appearance, yellow peel when ripe, red flesh, sweet and refreshing taste, easy-to-peel skin, very juicy, and especially, the longer it is stored, the deeper and sweeter the taste, with a subtle and enticing fragrance.
What do you know about the red pomelo cultivation area in Tan Lac?
Hoa Binh is known as a province with significant agricultural cultivation, particularly for its famous 2600 hectares of red pomelo orchards. In the Tan Lac district alone, there are approximately 240 hectares certified as organic and meeting VietGAP standards. Among them, six area codes have been granted according to European Union export standards, covering 140 hectares concentrated in red pomelo cultivation. The cultivation areas are strictly monitored for diseases and farming practices.
The origin of the Tan Lac red pomelo can be traced back to Khanh Thuong commune, Ba Vi, Hanoi. Until 2004, the pomelo was introduced and cultivated at Mr. Tran Hung's residence in Tan Huong 1 hamlet, Thanh Hoi commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh. The geographical and climatic conditions in the region proved to be highly compatible with this fruit tree variety. Consequently, the red pomelo was rapidly propagated and planted to replace the previous eucalyptus-covered hills, bringing about high economic efficiency for the local residents.
What are the characteristics of Tan Lac red pomelo?
The Tan Lac red pomelo has a round shape, yellow peel, and when ripe, the pomelo segments will exhibit a beautiful reddish-pink color. On average, each fruit weighs from 1.2 to 1.4 kg and is quite firm. The individual pomelo segments have a pinkish-red hue, tightly clustered together but easy to separate. When eaten, the pomelo has a crispy, sweet taste without being overly bitter. Notably, the Tan Lac red pomelo also carries a subtly distinctive fragrance compared to pomelos from other varieties like Dien pomelo, green-skinned pomelo, or five-ridge pomelo.
It is rare to find any fruit-bearing tree in Hoa Binh with as high a productivity as the Tan Lac red pomelo. Each tree, from 5 years and beyond, consistently yields from 260 to 320 fruits per year. The tree trunk is tall, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 meters, with a broad and long canopy. According to information gathered by MIA.vn, the initial height of the purchased seedlings for cultivation is typically around 50 to 60 cm.
From the initial success of Tan Lac district, in 2016, Hoa Binh province approved the Red Pomelo Production Project for the period 2016-2020. At the same time, regulations were issued to support the production of goods in the cultivation sector, and a decision was made that the Red Pomelo production model in Tan Lac district would be an advanced model for replication throughout the province. In 2017, Tan Lac district received the collective trademark "Tan Lac Red Pomelo," recognized by the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology). This was a crucial condition for the district to build its brand, promote, enhance competitiveness, introduce products into supermarkets within the province, and into large markets nationwide. In 2019, the People's Committee of Tan Lac district registered the idea and selected red pomelo as a One Commune One Product (OCOP) item.