Khau Lau enters peak custard apple harvest season

Khau Lau Valley in Tan Long Commune is entering the peak of its custard apple harvest season, with bustling activity across the orchards. Thanks to fertile soil, a mild climate, and the cultivation experience of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic community, custard apple has become a key crop, providing stable incomes for local households.

Khau Lau people harvest custard apples.

From early morning, farmers head to the hillsides to pick ripe, plump custard apples before transporting them to collection points. Known for their thick flesh, naturally sweet flavor, and distinctive aroma, Khau Lau custard apples are highly sought after by traders, who purchase the fruit directly from growers.

Ly Thi An's family currently cultivates more than 600 custard apple trees in full production. According to An, the fruit ripens gradually rather than all at once, requiring growers to inspect their orchards daily and harvest only fruit that has reached optimal maturity. Meanwhile, Truong Thanh Thuy, one of the first farmers to introduce custard apple cultivation to Khau Lau, now owns more than 1,000 productive trees. He said harvesting requires careful selection, with only fully mature fruit picked during the cool hours of early morning or late afternoon to preserve freshness and quality.

At local collection points, the fruit is carefully sorted by size, packed, and prepared for shipment to markets. The busy atmosphere of harvesting, grading, and packaging not only reflects a successful crop but also creates seasonal employment and brings joy to local farmers.

According to Trieu Van Xuan, head of the local fruit growers' group, Khau Lau now has more than 20 hectares of custard apple orchards. During the peak harvest period, daily output exceeds two tonnes, while each hectare generates an annual income of between VND100 million and VND150 million. Local growers are gradually adopting VietGAP production standards and working toward developing an OCOP-certified specialty product to enhance value and expand market opportunities.

Vuong Tu Phin, head of the village, said that alongside forestry and Bat Do bamboo cultivation for edible shoots, custard apple farming has transformed local production practices and significantly improved household incomes. In the coming years, the community plans to expand cultivation in suitable areas, strengthen technical training, and improve market linkages to ensure the sustainable development of the region's custard apple industry.

Le Thuy