Vietnamese Mango Co-op Regains Certification
A Thai-run cooperative in north-west Vietnam is using VietGAP certification and a phone-based traceability app to reach supermarket buyers.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food
Ban Chum Cooperative, run by Thai ethnic farmers in north-west Vietnam, has regained VietGAP certification for some orchards and is accessing supermarket buyers for the first time. Growers are using Eden Hub, a phone-based application that records cultivation and shipment details.
Why it matters
VietGAP-certified mangoes fetched prices up to 77 per cent higher in Hanoi supermarkets than in traditional local markets, giving smallholder growers a path to better returns. The project shows how training and digital record-keeping can help small producers meet buyer requirements.
The A$2.3 million project is supported by ACIAR and led by Applied Horticultural Research, Australia. VietGAP certification for some orchards lapsed in 2023 before project support helped the cooperative regain it.
The players
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
ACIAR is the Australian government agency that funds international agricultural research partnerships aimed at improving farming systems in developing countries.
Applied Horticultural Research
Applied Horticultural Research is the Australian research organisation leading this project on mango production and certification in Vietnam.
The details
Growers received training in pruning, irrigation, fertilisation, pest control, certification requirements, and record-keeping. Eden Hub records cultivation practices, post-harvest handling, and shipment information, and some growers used voice input to overcome difficulties with the application.
Timeline
2023: VietGAP certification for some orchards lapsed.
2028: The project is scheduled to continue until this year.
Season Trajectory
The project connects Vietnam's national VietGAP certification standard to export-oriented and supermarket supply chains, showing how a domestic scheme can open higher-value retail channels for small growers. Its phone-based traceability approach reflects a wider move toward digital record-keeping in smallholder agriculture.
Shoppers seeking certified produce may find VietGAP-labelled fruit in some Hanoi supermarkets at higher prices than in traditional markets. Readers interested in traceable sourcing can look for certification labels and retailer information on origin and growing practices.
The takeaway
Certification and record-keeping can help small producers reach higher-paying buyers when training and simple digital tools are available. Growers and shoppers alike benefit from clear traceability of how produce is grown and handled.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food for context on certified produce and its market channels.
More information
Visit the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research website for details on the project and its funding.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Freshplaza.
