Chung Tin Cooperative boosts local economy thanks to gac fruit cultivation

Currently, gac has become one of the key high-income crops in Kim Binh, helping many households overcome difficulties and develop their livelihoods right in their homeland.

Doan Van Chung is the pioneer who turned gac into a major local crop. Starting with the family’s initial 5 hectares, he founded the Chung Tin Cooperative in 2020, linking with hundreds of households to expand gac cultivation across various areas of the province.

Chung said that the gac harvest season begins in October each year and lasts until the end of the first lunar month.

With his contributions to local agricultural development, Chung was honored with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer” in 2025 by the Vietnam Farmers’ Union.

The cooperative cultivates a hybrid gac variety that produces large, oil-rich fruit. As a perennial plant, gac requires no annual replanting, and many vines in the gardens are over 10 years old.

Members of the cooperative as well as visiting farmers who come to learn about gac cultivation are warmly guided by Chung. Thanks to their partnership with Chung Tin Cooperative, many households in the commune have seen tangible improvements in their living standards and greater economic stability.

The cooperative purchases gac directly from farmers or sends trucks to collect fruit according to schedule. This year’s farm-gate price ranges from VND12,000 to VND15,000 per kilogram, with higher prices expected during the period leading up to Tet.

After collection, gac is transported to the processing facility, where it is sorted and the seeds are separated.

Gac produced by Chung Tin Cooperative is a high-oil hybrid variety, featuring bright red arils and a natural fragrance.

Once the seeds and arils are separated, they are placed in thermal dryers for dehydration.

Gac seeds are dried first to make peeling easier. The seed membrane contains abundant essential oils and valuable nutrients such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamin E.

The production facility and the cooperative provide regular employment for seven workers with a stable monthly salary of VND8 million, along with many seasonal jobs paying VND200,000 per day.

Chung Tin Cooperative operates a modern cold storage system to freeze gac-based products before distribution, helping preserve their nutritional value and ensuring quality output.

Minh Hoang