Durian with yellow flesh and 'out of sync' ripe in the region

Exceptional quality, ripened "out of phase"

Khanh Son is a mountainous district of Khanh Hoa province, about 100km southwest of Nha Trang city centre. Due to its location in the transition zone between the Lam Dong plateau and the Central Coast, the climate in Khanh Son is characterized by tropical monsoon and temperate climate.

In addition, the soil here is characterized by basalt red soil accounting for over 71%, Alluvial soil accounts for nearly 5%, pH from 5 - 6, and fairly fertile. Along with that, the intermediate minerals are available in the soil, so it is very suitable for growing many fruit trees such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, and green-skinned pomelo.

In particular, the Monthong-like durian tree is grown in Khanh Son for high yield and quality, with an average weight of 4-5kg/fruit. In particular, many fruits are reaching 7 - 8kg. According to consumers and traders, Khanh Son durian is much tastier than durian in many other regions. Not only does the durian have large segments and, an aromatic, sweet taste but it also has yellow fresh, flat seeds, a flesh weight ratio of up to 30-40%/fruit.

Mr Do Nhi Huy, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Khanh Son district, said that Khanh Son durian has excellent quality. It has been certified by the National Office of Intellectual Property to own the brand of flat-grain yellow fresh since March 2011. The reason the durian here has outstanding quality is because the temperature difference between day and night is high (8 - 9 degrees Celsius). This is a condition that helps the accumulation of dry matter in durian fruit to be enhanced.

On the other hand, Khanh Son durian has the advantage of flowering and ripening "out of phase" with other places, so there is no competition or conflict in the consumption market. According to farmers in Khanh Son district, the durian season here starts harvesting around July every year and ends at the end of August. That means Khanh Son durian is harvested about 1-2 months later than durian in the West and Southeast and 1 month earlier than durian in the Central Highlands. Therefore, when it comes to the harvest season, traders from different regions flock to buy durian and sell it everywhere.

Previously, Khanh Son durian was grown by a local person from durian seeds. Unexpectedly, the durian tree grew and developed well. In 1999, after studying climate factors, local soil quality and characteristics of durian trees, Khanh Son district contacted the Southern Horticultural Research Institute to bring durian varieties such as Ri6, Chin Hoa, and Monthong to trial production in an area of about 10 ha.

To date, the area of Khanh Son durian has reached about 2,500 ha, mainly containing the Monthong variety and a few other varieties like Chin Hoa and Ri6. Of these, about 1,200 ha are currently in business, with an output of 15,000 tons.

By 2008, Khanh Son district supported seeds, supplies, and fertilizers for farmers with an area of nearly 500 ha, mainly ethnic minorities. In addition, Khanh Hoa province has a policy to support crop conversion, supporting 50% of the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation systems for households converting inefficient cultivars to durian.

Expected to make VND 1,000 billion from durian

In the last days of August, people in Khanh Son district are busy harvesting durian for the last time. This year, the second lunar month leaps, along with the unusual weather, so Khanh Son durian blooms twice and later than usual.

Before that, in late June - early July, a few areas of early ripening durian in the western communes of this district including Son Lam, Thanh Son, and Son Binh were harvested and sold at an average price of VND 50,000 - 60,000/kg. By early August, the main crop of durians begins to enter full harvest.

However, according to farmers, about 2 weeks before the harvest time, the Khanh Son durian area was bustling. Traders from everywhere, including Chinese traders, flocked to the durian gardens in the area and placed large deposits to buy, pushing up durian prices.

Mr Luong Thanh Son, a durian grower in Hap Thinh residential group, To Hap town (Khanh Son district), said that in no year have Khanh Son durian growers been as content as this year when the output and selling price set a historic peak.

Accordingly, depending on whether the durian garden produces good or bad fruit, traders deposit to buy buckets at different prices. Averaging about VND 55,000 /kg for Ri6 durian and from VND 70,000 - 80,000/kg for Monthong durian. While every year Ri6 durian only ranges from VND 35,000 - 42,000/kg, last year's Monthong highest price only ranges from VND 52,000 - 53,000/kg.

The purchase price of durian this year is the highest ever, according to farmers. That's because many durian growing areas in Khanh Son now have area codes, so traders, even including Chinese traders flocking in to buy, fix prices and wait for the harvest date to officially export to the Chinese market.

Currently, Khanh Son durian is being harvested at the end of the season, but according to records, the price of durian purchased in buckets remains stable from VND 70,000 to 80,000/kg for the Mongthong variety (depending on the garden). Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dong, Vice Chairman of the Khanh Son District People's Committee said, this is a bumper durian crop for the Khanh Son people. The district's agricultural sector estimates that revenue from durian this year will be about VND 1,000 billion.