On July 8, at Tri Le Commune, Nghe An Province, Nafoods Group JSC, in collaboration with Tuan An Co., Ltd., hosted a Farm Tour to celebrate the first pineapple harvest in Tri Le. The event brought together representatives from local authorities, business partners, customers, and media agencies.
During the program, participants visited pineapple plantations at Ta Pan Hill and Ban Bo Village (Tri Le Commune), experienced the harvesting process firsthand, and learned about the integrated production model covering cultivation, procurement, and processing for export.
Nafoods has currently developed 50 hectares of pineapple plantations in Tri Le, cultivating two key varieties: Queen and MD2. The first harvest covers six hectares, while the next harvesting phases are scheduled for October and November this year on an additional five hectares. The project represents an investment of approximately VND 200 million per hectare.
Initial results indicate promising productivity across the growing area. The Queen variety yields approximately 40 tonnes per hectare, with an average fruit weight up to 1.2 kg, while the MD2 variety achieves 60-70 tonnes per hectare, with average fruit weights ranging up to 2.5 kg. In addition to supplying fresh fruit for processing, the plantation also produces planting materials to ensure a sustainable supply of seedlings for future cultivation cycles.
The Farm Tour and the first pineapple harvest in Tri Lễ marked a significant milestone, paving the way for the development of a sustainable pineapple sourcing region to support processing and export in western Nghệ An.
The Farm Tour and first harvest mark an important milestone in the development of an export-oriented pineapple production area in western Nghe An.
Following the initial harvest, Nafoods’ assessments confirm that Tri Le’s soil conditions, terrain, and climate are well suited for pineapple cultivation. Technical evaluations have also demonstrated that the growing area meets the fundamental requirements for pursuing GlobalG.A.P. certification in the near future.
All harvested pineapples are transported to the Nafoods Nghe An Processing Factory, which has a processing capacity of approximately 300 tonnes of raw materials per day. The products are processed to serve export orders for high-standard markets, including Europe, the United States, and Japan.
The first pineapples harvested from the Tri Le growing area come after nearly two years of investment, providing a stable source of raw materials for processing and export.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang, representative of Nafoods Group, said the project reflects the company’s long-term commitment to developing the pineapple industry in Nghe An.
“For Nafoods, developing raw material areas is not simply about expanding cultivation acreage. Our goal is to build an integrated value chain covering quality seedlings, cultivation techniques, production management, processing, and export. Over the past years, Nafoods has implemented various initiatives to strengthen the pineapple sector in Nghệ An, from expanding cultivation areas and supporting farmers in marketing their produce to investing in production linkage models. The first harvest in Tri Lễ demonstrates that this strategic direction is gradually becoming a reality.”
Representatives of Nafoods also introduced the company’s pineapple raw material development model in Tri Le to delegates, partners, and media representatives, highlighting its strategy of building a fully integrated value chain from cultivation to processing and export.
As the company directly coordinating the project, Mr. Le Dang Tuan, Director of Tuan An Co., Ltd., emphasized that the project’s key differentiator lies in the company’s continuous support throughout the production process.
“Nafoods has been involved from the very beginning-planning cultivation areas, selecting suitable varieties, transferring cultivation techniques, providing technical guidance, and establishing quality standards that meet processing requirements. More importantly, the company’s commitment to purchasing the harvest gives growers the confidence to invest, creating a solid foundation for future expansion.”
For the local community, the project delivers benefits beyond agricultural production by creating new opportunities for socio-economic development in the mountainous region.
According to Mr. Lo Minh Diep, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tri Le Commune, the company’s investment in developing a pineapple raw material area has contributed to establishing a commercial agricultural production model linked with deep processing, creating local employment and expanding economic opportunities for people living in the border region.
Local leaders, guests and residents joined the pineapple harvesting experience at the Farm Tour in Tri Lễ
The project’s positive impact is also reflected in the experiences of local workers. Mr. Xong Ba Gio, a local farmer, shared that his family previously relied on traditional crops with unstable income. Since joining the production partnership with Nafoods, he has received technical support, secured regular employment, and achieved a more stable income. He hopes the pineapple cultivation area will continue to expand, creating more job opportunities for local residents.
The first harvest in Tri Le represents more than the successful completion of a growing season. It marks an important step forward in developing a high-quality pineapple raw material area in Nghe An, providing a solid foundation for Nafoods to secure a stable supply of raw materials for processing, enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products, and further expand its export markets in the years ahead.