The Ben Tre Green Pomelo Cooperative (comprising 445 farmers across over 180 hectares) has successfully implemented a biological pest control method using weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) to meet the stringent export standards of the European market, specifically the rigorous Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs < 0.01 mg/kg). Instead of relying on synthetic pesticides, the cooperative leverages the ants' chemical ecology: they emit a compound called 1-octanol that highly repels fruit flies and other destructive pests.

With technical and professional support from the Southern Horticultural Research Institute, members of the Ben Tre Green Pomelo Cooperative have received training to raise awareness on key areas: safe cultivation processes, and standardized handling and packaging procedures for pomelo exports to the European market. This also serves as a preparatory step for a large-scale cooperative aiming to expand its cultivation area and increase the volume of high-quality products for other demanding markets.

The virtual Vietnam International Food Industry Exhibition – Virtual Vietnam Foodexpo 2021 opened on December 7. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai attended and delivered the opening speech at the event.

The journey of bringing Ben Tre green pomelo to the international market is not only a pride of Vietnamese agricultural products but also a testament to the right direction of the Cooperative model. Let's explore the journey to conquer the North American market and the immense benefits hundreds of farmers receive when joining the Cooperative.

On August 31, 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) officially launched the online forum "Connecting the Production and Consumption of Agricultural Products." The event attracted representatives from 63 provinces and cities, along with nearly 200 enterprises, industry associations, cooperatives, and production facilities nationwide.

Key Takeaways: Outstanding Event: The Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative was officially awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) for its excellent achievements. Quality Milestone: The cooperative's fresh green skin pomelo product excellently achieved the 4-star OCOP certification in 2020. Expansion Opportunities: This prestigious certification serves as a "golden ticket" to bring the products into major supermarket chains, e-commerce platforms, schools, and pave the way for international export.

Sustainable Commitment: The cooperative firmly says "no" to plastic bottles for its upcoming pure pomelo juice line, opting for glass and paper. New Product Launches: Exciting new processed products are on the way, including pure juice, candied peel, dried fruit, and pomelo nem. Prestigious Recognition: Honored by the VCED Project, the Canadian Embassy, and provincial authorities as a model cooperative ready for nationwide replication.

After a successful year of expanding the domestic market, penetrating demanding export markets, Ben Tre Green Pomelo cooperative held the ground-breaking ceremony for a new factory on March 4th, 2021 to boost their marketing - production capacity toward a complete agricultural value chain.

On the afternoon of February 3, 2021, preceding the groundbreaking ceremony of its new multi-functional processing complex, the Chairman of the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative accompanied the Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam and two VCED Project Directors in a strategic bilateral meeting with Mr. Tran Ngoc Tam, Chairman of the Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee. The dialogue focused on scaling the sustainable cooperative model, climate change resilience, and women's empowerment in the agricultural supply chain.

On January 26, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative convened its first Board of Directors (BOD) meeting of the new fiscal year. The strategic session was attended by key cooperative leadership alongside Ms. Gaby Breton and Ms. Vo Thi Kim Sa, Co-directors of the Vietnam Cooperative Enterprise Development (VCED) project. As long-term strategic advisors, their ongoing involvement underscores the cooperative's strong foundational support and adherence to international organizational standards.

Recently, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative achieved a critical operational milestone by successfully concluding the bidding process for its new multi-functional processing complex. Situated on a prime 4,000-square-meter site in the commercial center of Chau Thanh town—secured through the strategic facilitation of the provincial government—this upcoming facility marks the realization of a long-term development vision for the cooperative's leadership, staff, and farming members.

Amidst the unprecedented operational challenges posed by the global Covid-19 pandemic and an increasingly saturated domestic market, agricultural output security has been a paramount concern for local growers. Standing in absolute solidarity with its farming members, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative has proactively pivoted its strategic focus toward expanding international trade corridors, ensuring supply chain stability and protecting members' livelihoods.

On December 11, 2020, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative, attended the prestigious "National Cooperative Economic Forum 2020." Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, the high-level forum served as a strategic platform for apex cooperative organizations to exchange operational insights and formulate macroeconomic policies for the collective economic sector.

“The pomelos that we have just received from Vietnam are at a very high quality, very juicy, and very fragrant. We are used to having this fruit from everywhere, including China, Brazil, and Israel. But these pomelos reach another level with an exceptional texture and level of juice."- Patricia Masbourian, owner of Fruiterie Chez Nino at Atwater Market in Montreal

In late November 2020, the Ben Tre Green Skin Pomelo Cooperative successfully showcased its premium fruit brand, "Pink Pomelo Girl" (Cô Gái Bưởi Hồng), at the annual Regional Specialties Fair held in the capital city of Hanoi. Demonstrating exceptional market demand, the cooperative’s entire inventory of visually flawless, firm, and high-Brix green skin pomelos was completely sold out within the four-day event, drawing substantial interest from both premium consumers and institutional buyers.

On November 18, a high-level assessment workshop dedicated to evaluating the "New-Style Cooperative Development Project" was convened in Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm City. Jointly organized by the Vietnam Cooperative Enterprise Development (VCED) project and the Development Section of the Embassy of Canada, the forum brought together key stakeholders to analyze the economic impacts and value-chain enhancements achieved across five strategic provinces: Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Lâm Đồng, Bến Tre, and Sóc Trăng.