4-star OCOP fish sauce and the way to export

When it comes to Phan Thiet fish sauce in particular and Binh Thuan in general, not only people in the country but also foreigners praise the special delicious and rich flavor when they have tried it once. Perhaps thanks to the secret of brewing and the history of more than 300 years, the Phan Thiet fish sauce brand has crystallized and is incomparable anywhere.

Branding

Implementing the OCOP Program, traditional fish sauce products are being researched and developed by households to produce products that meet the criteria of the One Commune One Product program and gradually improve the brand from design and quality, not only meeting the domestic market but also moving towards export.

Traditional fish sauce products meet 4-star OCOP standards. (Photo: N. Lan)

Mr. Nguyen Huu Dung - Director of Ba Hai Company Limited said, “To make a traditional fish sauce product with rich flavor, the selection of anchovy ingredients is very important. Fortunately, Binh Thuan has a rare upwelling area, so the quality of the anchovies is always fatty and delicious, combined with a secret fermentation formula and a fermentation time of 12 - 15 months, so Phan Thiet traditional fish sauce is more popular than other coastal localities. Ba Hai fish sauce not only meets 4-star OCOP quality, but is also ISO certified and qualified to export to markets such as the US, Canada, and Korea. Through the OCOP program, Ba Hai fish sauce products have become more widely known and trusted by domestic consumers. Currently, the company is promoting the completion of procedures to export fish sauce to other demanding markets”.

Fish sauce production facilities always put food safety and hygiene standards first. Photo: N.Lan.

Like Ba Hai fish sauce, Black Fish sauce, although only established in 2019, has gradually affirmed its brand with products that meet 4-star OCOP standards. Mr. Huynh Van Dung - Director of Black Fish Company Limited shared: “We use 100% fatty, fresh anchovies, do not use trash fish and do not use any chemicals to mix into fish sauce to increase the preservation time or adjust the flavor of fish sauce. Besides fish and salt, there are no colorants, thickeners or MSG. We are researching and learning about the needs of potential markets such as Europe and Canada”.

Many tourists come to visit and learn about the traditional fish sauce making process.

Exports are still modest

In particular, the recent news that the first batch of traditional fish sauce “Old Fishing Village” from Phan Thiet has been officially exported to the US has further affirmed the quality and value of the products that the company has worked hard to create. After 2 years of completing related legal procedures, the first batch exported to the US by Seagull Company Limited includes three types of fish sauce, including vegetarian fish sauce and red-fleshed anchovy fish sauce brewed from anchovies, which are only exploited in July - August every year.

Exporting fish sauce must comply with the strict standards of each market.

In recent times, the province's functional sectors have supported fish sauce producers who have achieved 3-star and 4-star OCOP to promote their brands, find customers, and expand distribution channels. Thanks to that, the Phan Thiet fish sauce brand has appeared on many e-commerce platforms, large and small supermarkets in and outside the province, and has connected with many customers from the North to the South. However, the path to exporting fish sauce is still modest. According to the owners of fish sauce production facilities, a part of the domestic market is still very potential, there is not enough supply, stable prices, while exporting fish sauce requires registering geographical indications and complying with strict standards of each market, so businesses are still hesitant.

Currently, the authorities are guiding several companies to carry out procedures so that OCOP products meet export standards to foreign markets. At that time, the rich flavor of Phan Thiet fish sauce will be present in the daily meals of Vietnamese people living abroad more easily.

Currently, Phan Thiet has many fish sauce products with 4-star OCOP certification that are highly appreciated by consumers inside and outside the province such as: Ba Hai fish sauce, Tin fish sauce (Seagull Company Limited); Phan Thiet Mui Ne fish sauce and Suchi pure anchovy fish sauce (Phan Thiet - Mui Ne Fish Sauce Processing and Export Joint Stock Company); Toan Huong fish sauce (Toan Huong Phan Thiet Company Limited), Black Fish fish sauce...

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/nuoc-mam-ocop-4-sao-va-con-duong-xuat-ngoai-126095.html