With technical and professional support from the Southern Horticultural Research Institute, production members of the Ben Tre Green Pomelo Cooperative recently underwent comprehensive training to raise awareness and elevate their farming standards.

This initiative focuses on equipping farmers with the essential skills to meet the stringent requirements of international trade, specifically targeting the European Union (EU).

Core Training Components

To ensure the highest quality of agricultural output, the training covered several critical areas:

• Safe Cultivation Processes: Implementing strict agricultural practices to guarantee product safety and consistency.

• Standardized Processing: Upgrading preliminary handling techniques to maintain the fruit's natural quality.

• Export-Ready Packaging: Utilizing modern packing house standards to ensure the pomelos withstand logistics and arrive in pristine condition.

Aligning with European Standards

The European market appreciates the core values behind a product, looking beyond just the physical fruit. By participating in this training, the cooperative is transitioning from purely production-focused to a model that emphasizes sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility.

To successfully penetrate this market, the cooperative is aligning its operations with rigorous international standards:

• Global Certifications: Strict application of international testing standards including GlobalGAP, GRASP, and SMETA.

• Farm-to-Fork Traceability: Implementing electronically controlled processes that allow sourcing managers to transparently trace the origin of the fruit back to the exact hectare of cultivation.

• ESG Compliance: Affirming environmental and social responsibility by ensuring sustainable ecosystems and fair livelihoods for farmers in the Mekong Delta.

A Vision for the Future