HO CHI MINH CITY: As the Lunar New Year approaches, Ho Chi Minh City cooperatives and businesses in the national One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme are entering their peak production period, with many scaling up output, upgrading packaging, and expanding product lines to capture higher-value Tet demand.
From processing facilities and agricultural growing areas to packaging workshops, operations are running at full capacity to meet year-end demand, reflecting a shift in the OCOP sector towards more professional production, branding and market positioning.
In recent years, demand for OCOP products during Tet has increased not only in volume but also expectations.
Consumers increasingly prioritise clear product origins, assured food safety standards and strong local identity, while paying closer attention to packaging suitable for gifting.
To meet these demands, OCOP producers have prepared early this year by securing raw materials, tweaking production plans, upgrading packaging, and diversifying product lines.
Across the city, workshops are operating at full speed.
The cooperative’s three-star OCOP product is made from freshly caught anchovies, naturally fermented with salt for a full year and filtered through multiple stages before being bottled.
According to Le Viet Hung, chairman of the cooperative’s board of directors, more than 5,000 litres of fish sauce in various bottle sizes are expected to be supplied during the Tet peak.
Alongside preserving traditional quality standards, the cooperative has invested in improved labels and packaging to raise product value and meet festive-season consumer expectations.
Strong growth has also been recorded among processed agricultural products.
At the cocoa processing facility operated by OCA Viet-Nhat Co, Ltd in Binh Gia Commune, production lines have been running extended shifts to handle a sharp rise in orders.
Sales of chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa wine, and Tet gift products have increased by more than 50% from normal days.
Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, a manager at the company, said that, in addition to its core product range, the firm has introduced new chocolate varieties that contain nuts, cereals, fruits and coffee.
Premium Tet gift sets with refined designs and festive colours have been a key focus.
The Song Xoai green-skin pomelo cooperative in Tan Thanh Ward is also in its peak harvest season.
Trucks carrying freshly harvested pomelos arrive continuously at the cooperative for grading, processing and packaging before delivery to partners.
Ho Hoang Kha, its director, said around 200 tonnes of the fruit are being prepared for the Tet market this year.
Beyond fresh fruit, the cooperative has expanded into deep processing, offering products such as fermented pomelo, dried peel and flower tea and essential oil made from the fruit.
Packaged into Tet gift hampers, these products offer consumers more choice while sharply raising the economic value of the fruit. According to the city Department of Agriculture and Environment, the OCOP programme has played a key role in building strong brands. — Viet Nam News/ANN
