Recently, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative received tremendous news as it was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Minister of MARD. This is a well-deserved reward for the cooperative's outstanding efforts and achievements in implementing the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program. This precious recognition is a shared success, dedicated to all the passionate members, the Board of Directors, and the entire dedicated staff of the cooperative.
2020 - A Milestone Year with the 4-Star OCOP Certification
The year 2020 marked a significant and proud turning point for the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative. Overcoming rigorous quality control standards, the cooperative's fresh green skin pomelo product excellently achieved the 4-star OCOP certification.
This is not only an affirmation of the superior quality, safety, and distinctive flavor of this renowned pomelo variety, but also a strategic lever helping the cooperative expand its market share. Thanks to the 4-star OCOP guarantee, the product now holds a strong competitive advantage to penetrate deeper into the domestic market: from supplying schools and listing on major e-commerce platforms, to being distributed across supermarket chains, convenience stores, and trade union networks in industrial and export processing zones nationwide.
Understanding the Importance of the OCOP Program
To achieve this result, the cooperative closely adhered to OCOP criteria. So, what is the practical significance of this program for the agricultural sector?
The OCOP (One Commune One Product) program is a strategic focus in rural economic development, aiming to leverage internal resources and enhance product value chains. It is also a core mission in the national target program for building New Rural areas.
The goal of OCOP is to develop characteristic agricultural, non-agricultural, and service products that hold a local advantage. This process is driven by the private economic sector (enterprises, production households) and the collective economy (cooperatives).
In the OCOP ecosystem, the State plays a constructive and supportive role by:
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Establishing legal frameworks and supportive policies.
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Orienting the planning of production and service areas.
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Strictly managing and monitoring product quality standards.
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Providing comprehensive support in: professional training, technology transfer, scientific application, brand building, trade promotion, and credit support.
According to the program's standards, products are evaluated and rated from 1 to 5 stars. Products that achieve 4 to 5 stars (such as the fresh pomelos from the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative) not only solidify their position in the domestic market but also meet international standards, ensuring competitiveness and readiness for export.
Built upon the solid foundation of the 4-star OCOP certification, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative is steadily asserting the position of Vietnamese agricultural brands on the map of high-quality agriculture.