Dong Thap Farmers Enter Peak Harvest of Lunar New Year Mandarins.

(DTO) After months of careful tending, many mandarin orchards are now ripening, entering the peak harvest period to supply the Lunar New Year market.

On February 13 (the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month), growers in Hoa Long Commune began harvesting mandarins to meet demand for the 2026 Lunar New Year market.

According to the Hoa Long Commune People’s Committee, this year’s Lunar New Year mandarins have higher yields and better quality than in 2025. The expected harvest for the holiday season is around 1,700 tons.

Of this, an estimated 75 tons will be consumed through tourism activities. At the moment, traders are buying mandarins directly at orchards for 60,000-80,000 VND per kilo for grade-1 fruit, and 45,000-50,000 VND for grade-2 fruit, depending on size and quality.

Pham Phu Cuong, owner of the Cuong Thinh Mandarin Orchard in Long Hung 1 Hamlet, Hoa Long Commune, has been busy harvesting his family’s orchard. He shared: “After a little over a month of opening to visitors, our site has welcomed more than 5,000 tourists. This year, Lunar New Year mandarin prices have not increased. What truly adds value to mandarins is that growers no longer focus on producing fruit for the holiday season. They also stagger production across different periods. In addition, farmers are now more aware of the benefits of bio-safe cultivation. Following safe production practices helps build trust and promote the brand, allowing mandarins to reach many markets across the country.”

Images of Hoa Long farmers during the peak harvest of Lunar New Year mandarins:

By PHAN KHANH
Translated by ANH DUC