Currently, the cooperative purchases Lo Ren star apples at a GlobalGAP standard for VND45,000 per kilogram, up VND12,000 compared to last month. Despite the price hike, supplies are running short to meet export contracts.

Mr Ngan said that the Rong Do Trade and Services Company has an order for 1.5 tonnes of star apples to be shipped to the UK but the co-operative can only supply 300 kilogram.

The cooperative is planting 55.3ha of star apples meeting the GlobalGAP standard with an expected annual output of 400 tonnes. It also plans to expand its orchards to 100ha in the near future.

Since early this year, the cooperative has exported nearly 10 tonnes of star apples to the UK and Canada.