From a type of bulb used as a seasoning for daily meals, thanks to the efforts of local authorities and farmers, shallots have become a commercial crop in Yen Thuy district, contributing to promoting the transformation of crop structure in agricultural production, bringing higher incomes to locals.
The production process of pickled shallots in Phu Lai Agricultural Cooperative (Yen Thuy district) always ensures food hygiene and safety requirements, absolutely no preservatives are used.
Shallots, which have been grown in Yen Thuy district for many years, are not only a spice that makes dishes more attractive, but they are considered a medicinal herb that can effectively cure many diseases.
Notably, in October, shallots met food safety requirements to be exported to the UK market. Yen Thuy district homes nearly 100ha of shallot cultivation, mainly in Phu Lai commune. The exported product is Yen Thuy pickled shallots, produced by Phu Lai Agricultural Cooperative.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hien, a member of the cooperative, said that since 2020, after receiving the trademark registration certification from The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPO) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the area for growing shallots in the locality has been steadily expanding.
To meet the required standards for sample analysis before export, the production process of yen Thuy pickled shallots is carried out with strict adherence to food safety and hygiene regulations, without the use of preservatives. The products are all labeled with full information, including labels, serial numbers, barcodes, and traceability details.
For export products, the cooperative ensures that jars meet the specifications and requirements of the importing country, with each jar weighing 390 grams.
Mrs Bui Thi Xanh, deputy director of the agriculture and rural development office of Yen Thuy district, said the recent export of pickled shallots was the first shipment of processed agricultural products from the province to the UK market, adding that this is a positive signal, opening up new opportunities for the district's products and promoting the shift of crop structure towards commodity production.
The district authority will continue carrying out investment promotion programmes; support local companies and cooperatives in attending trade promotion and marketing activities; and provide guidance and the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to help them improve production and business capacity, she said.
Nguyen Hong Yen, director of the plant cultivation and protection sub-department stated that to prepare for the export of products, including pickled shallots from Yen Thuy, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has cooperated with the People's Committee of Yen Thuy district to guide and support production facilities in standardising the raw material areas, improving processing and packaging techniques to meet requirements of importers.
