Farmer Tran Van Cung (Phong Hoa commune, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province) said that he started growing watermelons more than 20 years ago. Since 2005, he has researched creating gold bars and square shapes to make the product more unique, increasing the value of the Kim Hong watermelons he grows.
According to Mr. Cung, when he started making the mold, he encountered many difficulties due to the high technical requirements, the low rate of grade 1 fruit, so the selling price of the melons was high, and the output was also difficult. However, the product had a beautiful appearance and could be preserved for a long time, so consumers liked it, and the number of melons made each year was not enough to sell.
“The price of a pair of grade 1 watermelons is 1.5 million VND, while grade 2 watermelons cost from 600,000 to 900,000 VND. Although the price is dozens of times higher than the normal price of watermelons, it is still not enough to meet the demand of customers,” Mr. Cung added.
As a regular customer, Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong - in Hanoi said that according to annual tradition when Tet comes, he orders more than 20 pairs of square-shaped and gold-bar-shaped melons to bring back to the North to give to relatives.
According to Mr. Cong, even if the selling price is higher than 1.5 million VND/pair, it is still worth it. The care and shaping of the watermelon to create a beautiful, flawless watermelon with clearly visible calligraphy is very elaborate.
“This is the fourth year I have bought shaped watermelons from Mr. Cung, so I am very confident in the quality and design. The shiny yellow skin of the watermelon is very eye-catching, creating more confidence that the new year will bring many successes like the calligraphy “everything goes as you wish”, Mr. Cong added.
Trader Nguyen Van Minh (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) said he ordered gold bar and square watermelons from the moment Mr. Cung planted them.
According to Mr. Minh, in the first years of buying shaped melons to sell, he had to go to the garden to select each fruit and bring it home. However, Mr. Cung's honest and straightforward nature in buying and selling has led him to place orders over the phone for the past 3 years.
"Currently, I only report the quantity of shaped watermelons that need to be imported and on the day of harvest, those watermelons will be delivered to Ho Chi Minh City," said Mr. Minh.
"For the 2024 Lunar New Year crop, I have about 400 grade 1 fruits. Although there are not enough to deliver to customers who ordered in advance, customers still accept them because they know that placing melons in molds depends a lot on the weather," Mr. Cung added.
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