Early season strawberries in Son La. Photo: Truong Son

FromMoc Chau plateauIn the key strawberry-growing areas of Mai Son district, the strawberry gardens begin to ripen, creating a bustling atmosphere in the fields. The strawberry season not only provides a stable source of income for farmers but also becomes a highlight attracting tourists to visit and experience, contributing to enhancing the value of agriculture linked to tourism in the locality.

Strawberry red color attracts visitors to experience it.

In the Moc Chau plateau, strawberries have been one of the main winter crops in recent years, covering over 150 hectares. During the harvest season, many farms and cooperatives open their doors to visitors, offering strawberry picking experiences and creating a lively atmosphere at the farms.

Bon Bon Agricultural Tourism Cooperative in Moc Chau ward is a familiar destination for tourists when it comes to agricultural tourism. Besides new crops, strawberries remain the most popular product among visitors. At this time of year, the strawberry gardens are beginning to harvest, with ripe, juicy red strawberries attracting many tourists to visit, take photos, and pick strawberries in the gardens.

Ms. Nguyen Mai Hong, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: “My family often chooses Moc Chau as a destination at the end of the year or during long holidays. The cool weather is very pleasant, and the experience of picking and enjoying fresh strawberries in the garden is a fun one, especially for the children.”

To ensure the quality of products for the market and tourists, strawberry growers in Moc Chau focus on safe and organic production. Many strawberry fields are cultivated according to VietGAP standards, applying automatic irrigation systems and using organic and microbial fertilizers, resulting in strawberries with attractive appearance, a sweet and refreshing taste, and guaranteed safety for consumers. Combining agricultural production with experiential tourism contributes to increasing the value of strawberries and boosting income for growers.

Alongside Moc Chau, the communes of Mai Son, Chieng Sung, and Chieng Mung are also large-scale strawberry growing areas in Son La province. These days, strawberry growing areas in Co Noi, Tan Thao, Binh Minh, Thong Nhat, Cao Son, Nong Son... are entering the beginning of the harvest season. On the hillsides, farmers are busy picking, sorting, and packaging strawberries to supply the market.

The Mai Son area currently has over 700 hectares of strawberry plantations, producing tens of thousands of tons of fruit annually. Strawberries from this area are popular with consumers due to their attractive appearance, large size, sweet taste, and distinctive aroma. During harvest season, strawberries are easily sold through a network of traders, organic produce stores, and cooperatives involved in production.

Mr. Nguyen Van Linh, a member of the Xuan Que Strawberry Cooperative in Mai Son commune, said his family has more than 2 hectares of strawberry plants. Even though it's only the beginning of the season, his family harvests 10-30 kg of fruit daily, with stable sales according to signed orders. "Thanks to the cooperative, all the strawberries we produce have a market, prices are stable, and growers can produce with peace of mind," Mr. Linh said.

Strawberry flowers. Photo: Truong Son

Currently, there are many effective strawberry farming cooperatives operating in Mai Son district. These cooperatives organize production according to VietGAP standards, establish planting area codes, and link consumption with supermarkets and large domestic distribution systems, contributing to increasing product value and reducing risks for farmers.

In Chiềng Mung commune, many households are entering the strawberry season with a proactive and confident attitude regarding product sales. Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, from Na San village, said his family currently cultivates 2.5 hectares of strawberries. In previous years, his family grew strawberries in Tan Thao hamlet, Mai Son commune. This year, recognizing the stable market demand, his family decided to rent land for their own cultivation, investing comprehensively from land preparation to irrigation systems and plastic mulching.

According to Mr. Thang, planting early and following proper technical procedures helps the strawberry garden grow well, producing uniform and beautiful fruit. From the beginning of the season, his family started harvesting, yielding 30-40 kg per day. "The strawberries are sold as soon as they are harvested, mainly to traders and organic fruit stores with whom we have pre-arranged contracts," Mr. Thang shared.

Currently, the selling price of strawberries ranges from 220,000 to 270,000 VND/kg, depending on the variety, providing a stable income for the family. Mr. Thang added that thanks to strong sales linkages, strawberry products are not subject to market demand, allowing growers to focus on improving fruit quality. During the harvest season, the strawberry garden not only brings economic benefits but also creates regular jobs for local laborers.

Winter agricultural tourism

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Son La province currently has over 800 hectares of strawberry cultivation, mainly concentrated in Moc Chau, Mai Son, Chieng Sung, Chieng Mung, and some neighboring areas. Thanks to the application of scientific and technical advancements in production, strawberry yields average 10-13 tons per hectare. Stable selling prices provide a considerable income for growers, making it a high-value economic crop.

Besides its economic benefits, strawberries also contribute to enriching the range of products.tourismIn Son La province, during the harvest season, many farms open their doors to visitors, offering opportunities to experience strawberry picking and enjoy local produce on the spot. This activity not only increases income for farmers but also creates an attraction for local tourism, especially during the winter months.

Residents of Tan Thao village, Mai Son commune, harvest strawberries at the beginning of the season. Photo: Truong Son.

With a focus on developing commercial agriculture linked to experiential tourism, Son La province is encouraging the expansion of strawberry cultivation areas in a safe and sustainable manner, and promoting linkages between production and consumption.

During the strawberry season, the vibrant red of the strawberry gardens not only signals a bustling harvest but also opens up opportunities to enhance the value of agricultural products, contributing to the development of the rural economy and promoting the image of Son La to domestic and international tourists.