Up to now, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative has been established and continuously developing for nearly 10 years; this is not merely the journey of an organization or its people, but a deeply meaningful path that has been contributing to the shared destiny of Ben Tre's Green Skin pomelo on the specialty map. The journey of the green skin pomelo is a vivid testament, reflecting a long-term evolutionary process from an unnamed mutant seedling in a humble home garden into an invaluable intellectual property and a commercial resource of national stature. That glorious journey bears the profound imprints of pioneering individuals, the miraculous intervention of agronomic science, and an exquisitely refined process of natural selection.
1.1. The Alluvial Land and the Discovery by Our Forefathers
Historical data and long-standing field notes reveal that the origin of the green skin pomelo tree is intimately intertwined with the blessed land of Ben Tre, a unique ecological space richly nourished by a dense network of rivers and the endless alluvial silt of the Tien River. The majority of prestigious agronomic documents and the heartfelt folklore circulating in the Mekong Delta both confirm that the very first person to discover and propagate this pomelo variety was Mr. Tran Van Luong (affectionately known by the community as Sau Luong, born in 1905, died in 1979), residing in Thanh Tan commune, Mo Cay district (now Mo Cay Bac district), Ben Tre province.
According to historical records through the poignant retellings of Mr. Sau Luong's children, around 1940, while attending a death anniversary in a neighboring rural village, Mr. Sau Luong was unexpectedly invited to taste a strange pomelo variety. True amazement washed over him when the outer peel maintained a deep, lush green hue, yet upon being sliced open, the core revealed a breathtakingly vibrant pink color, accompanied by an elegantly sweet, dry taste that left absolutely no bitter aftertaste. Recognizing the exceptional, peerless quality of this fruit, Mr. Sau Luong decided to ask for the seeds to bring back and plant in his own family's garden. From those pristine shoots, the remarkable trait of green skin and pink flesh began to spread, taking deep, enduring roots into the orchard ecosystem of Mo Cay, and opening the very first, magnificent chapter in the developmental history of Vietnam's most renowned pomelo variety. Those first pomelo stumps are not just a cherished family heritage, but a precious genetic resource that laid the solid foundation for the massive specialized farming systems of the future.
1.2. The Turning Point of Commercialization: The Pioneering Vision of Old Farmer Ba Ro and the BR99 Brand
Parallel to those historic pomelo roots in Mo Cay, another branch of history also made a monumental contribution to the commercialization, genetic preservation, and the forging of a brand mindset for this pomelo variety, intimately tied to the name of old farmer Dang Van Ro (commonly called Ba Ro, 81 years old, residing in Ben Tre ward, Vinh Long province – formerly part of the old Ben Tre province). Mr. Ba Ro's passionate participation in this historical chain accelerated the transformation of the green skin pomelo from a humble, self-sufficient crop into a highly valuable economic commodity.
According to heartfelt recorded memories, in 1973, Mr. Dang Van Ro's family owned a mutant pomelo tree about 20 years old, yielding fruits with lush green peels and a dazzling peach-pink interior. The unique, almost magical feature that made this variety so highly prized was that when the fruit reached optimal physiological ripeness, its seeds would automatically shrink or completely disappear, creating an absolutely exquisite consumer experience. With the sharp, brilliant vision of a seasoned farmer, Mr. Ba Ro proceeded to extract 30 branches from this mutant tree to continue propagating and preserving it for future generations. After the historic event of 1975, the old mother tree sadly died and was cut down, but the second generation of those 30 grafted trees had matured, beginning to blossom and bear fruit, wholly maintaining their superior genetic traits. Realizing the outstanding economic efficiency, Mr. Ba Ro made a strategic, profoundly bold decision: he completely transformed his crop structure, cutting down traditional trees like longan and king mandarin to specialize in green skin pomelos on an initial area of 400m², later expanding to nearly 2,000m². By 2003, his visionary, ahead-of-his-time mindset was clearly demonstrated when he became one of the first farmers in the Mekong Delta to register an exclusive trademark for his agricultural product under the name "BR99" (Bưởi Rô 1999), directly supplying thousands of seedlings to the market at a record-high price of 40,000 to 50,000 VND per branch, creating a true agricultural fever in the region.
1.3. Affirming Scientific Prestige: Prestigious Awards from Research Institutes and Authorities
The fame of the green skin pomelo might have forever been confined within village boundaries or limited by the subjective judgments of farmers, had it not been for the crucial intervention, rigorous evaluation, and recognition from prestigious scientific institutions. The historical turning point that officially gave the green skin pomelo its name took place in early 1999 in Tien Giang province (now administratively part of Dong Thap according to some old demarcations), when Mr. Dang Van Ro brought 3 green skin pomelos to compete in the delicious fruit contest of the entire Mekong Delta and unexpectedly, brilliantly won the Second Prize. This marked the very first time the green skin pomelo officially stepped into the radiant light of large-scale professional forums, capturing the immense attention of agronomic scholars.
However, the true pinnacle of glory and the most solid academic acknowledgment came from the strict contests organized by the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI). In these national-level quality assessment and seedling selection contests, the Ben Tre green skin pomelo consistently overcame a series of heavyweight competitors to proudly and triumphantly win First Prize in the "Delicious Fruit" category. Most notable is the deeply inspiring story of orchard owner Le Van Hoa (commonly known as Hai Hoa), residing in Tan Phu hamlet, Son Dinh commune, Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province. Mr. Hai Hoa's "2H" brand green skin pomelo won First Prize at SOFRI's Good Seedling Contest thanks to a myriad of stunning biological advantages: perfectly round and balanced fruits, unbelievably thin peels, even segments, easy-to-peel skin, a beautiful pink mesocarp layer, an elegantly sweet taste, and notably its 100% seedless characteristic. The spectacular excellence of the "2H" pomelo in the market was quantified by its selling price: while unbranded pomelos only fetched 11,000 - 12,000 VND/kg, Mr. Hai Hoa's pomelos were proudly distributed at the Central Store of District I, Ho Chi Minh City at an impressive price of 16,000 VND/kg.
To resolve the frustrating phenomenon of fruits "acting up" by having seeds (from 5-20 seeds/fruit) due to cross-pollination with other citrus species in the garden (such as king mandarin, sweet mandarin), Mr. Hai Hoa enthusiastically collaborated with scientists from SOFRI and Can Tho University to research the issue. He brilliantly invented a biological "insurance" tool: a zinc wire cage covered with a square nylon mesh (25-30cm edges, 10-12cm mouth diameter, 12cm deep) carefully placed over the pomelo flower clusters, completely preventing wild pollen from neighboring orchards from falling in and pollinating. This incredibly practical initiative not only perfectly protected the "2H" brand but also contributed a vitally important biological management method for the entire standardization process of seedless green skin pomelos for export later on.
1.4. The Geographical Spread
The undeniable economic allure of the green skin pomelo quickly transcended the borders of Ben Tre, enthusiastically spreading to neighboring provinces and continuing to reap glorious successes. A shining example is the inspiring case of Mr. Nguyen Van Thang (Hamlet 4, Thanh Hoa commune, Ben Luc district, Long An province). In 2002, Mr. Thang received 25 green skin pomelo roots from a friend in Ben Tre to lovingly plant experimentally alongside other crops on alum-rich soil. Thanks to advanced scientific care techniques, the pomelo orchard grew vigorously, bringing in an astonishing profit of 150 - 200 million VND/year (a massive and life-changing sum back in 2006). When participating in a green skin pomelo "competition," Mr. Thang consecutively won First Prize at the Delicious and Safe Fruit Contest within the framework of the Vietnam International Agricultural Fair (2008), and Third Prize at the First Vietnam Fruit Festival (2010) in Tien Giang.
Not stopping at state-organized academic playgrounds, this well-deserved recognition was also beautifully actualized through private institutions. In 2018, Garsoni Vietnam Co., Ltd. worked closely with the Ben Tre Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (represented by Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Deputy Head of the Sub-Department) to proudly organize the very first contest named "Pomelo Queen" in Vietnam. The grand event gathered over 300 outstanding farming households from Ben Tre, Tien Giang, and Soc Trang. Overcoming two exceptionally rigorous rounds evaluating fruit quality and testing practical agronomic knowledge, Mrs. Phan Thi Tron (Giong Trom district, Ben Tre) excellently claimed the championship title with a grand prize of 50 million VND. Subsequent awards proudly honored Mr. Le Van Hong (My Thanh An, Ben Tre - 20 million VND) and Mr. Nguyen Van Be Tu (Ke Sach, Soc Trang - 10 million VND). According to Mr. Tran The Nang, a distribution agent, this event triggered an unprecedented, powerful wave of passionate learning about advanced farming techniques within the farming community.
These phenomenal achievements and awards are not merely symbolic certificates. They firmly act as an "early peer-reviewed validation" system, establishing absolute, unshakeable trust in the domestic market. This is an extremely vital policy and economic premise, deeply urging local authorities and farming communities to restructure their crops, thereby forming monumental, large-scale cooperatives like the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative or the Chau Hung Agricultural Cooperative (Cho Lach, Ben Tre - developed since 2012). These dedicated organizations have stood completely ready with a colossal production output to confidently meet the grand goal of B2B industrial-scale export in the following decade.
