Ambition to become “king” of golden cashew apples

With its vast cashew-growing areas and a strong concentration of cashew nut processing enterprises, Dong Nai province is referred to as Vietnam's cashew capital. As a result, the province has an abundance of "kings" in the field of processing cashew nuts for export.

Pham Van Hieu (far left), Director of Hoang Anh Cooperative, and a representative from AGRI365 Agricultural Solutions Co., Ltd., survey cashew harvesting process of farmers in Binh Phuoc ward.

Among them is Pham Van Hieu, Director of Hoang Anh Cooperative in Binh Phuoc ward, who has spent years dedicating himself to developing value-added products from fresh cashew apples. Today, the cooperative’s processed products are well received by consumers. Yet for Hieu, these achievements mark only the beginning of a larger ambition of becoming the “king” of cashew apples in the land known as Vietnam’s cashew capital.

Turning waste into “gold”

Despite their high nutritional value, cashew apples have been discarded for years, a reality that has long troubled Pham Van Hieu, Director of Hoang Anh Cooperative in Binh Phuoc ward. Hieu noted, “From every 10 kilograms of fresh cashew apples, only about 2 kilograms of nuts are extracted - the rest is largely wasted. Because of this, throughout my years of involvement in processing fresh cashew apples, I have never rested for a moment. I have devoted myself to refining production workflows and processing techniques, training and retaining skilled workers, and seeking investment capital. During peak seasons, I often work late into the night. I would even take the time to make cashew fruit sauce because this manual process requires meticulousness at every stage.”

Ensuring the quality of input materials has also been a major challenge. During the trial process, numerous batches, totaling tons of fermenting materials, had to be discarded because they failed to meet the required standards.

Selecting clean cashew apple raw materials for processing has likewise been a painstaking task. Throughout the research and processing stages, Hieu repeatedly had to throw away tons of materials used to ferment cashew fruit sauce, in part because the raw materials did not meet quality standards. According to Hieu, the first requirement for producing successful batches of cashew fruit sauce is that the cashew apples must be fresh and clean. For that reason, he has gone to great lengths to seek out cashew orchards cultivated using organic methods. The cooperative now has many long-time cashew farmers as members. Hieu observed that only veteran cashew growers who have farmed organically with diligence and frugality are patient enough to carefully tend the trees and handpick each fresh, high-quality cashew apple to sell to the cooperative.

The production process of cashew fruit sauce at Hoang Anh Cooperative, Binh Phuoc ward, Dong Nai province.

Hieu shared that to encourage farmers to harvest and sell fresh cashew apples, the cooperative must prepare sufficient capital to pay farmers daily for the fruit they sell. As the cashew apple harvest season is very short, the cooperative has to make the most of each day to purchase and stockpile raw materials. The cooperative's biggest concern remains the shortage of investment capital, while it races against time, counting each day to secure raw materials for the year's production. At the current price of VND 2,500 per kilogram of fresh cashew apples, cashew growers' income could increase by at least 30-40%.

During the harvest season, Huynh Thanh Minh’s nearly one-hectare cashew orchard in Binh Phuoc ward yields around 300–400 kilograms of ripe fruit, which is sold to Hoang Anh Cooperative. In line with the cooperative’s standards, only fresh, high-quality cashew apples are selected, while bruised or damaged ones are discarded. Each afternoon, as the heat subsides, Minh’s entire family heads out to harvest together. At about 2,500 VND per kilogram, the family earns several million dong per day. Minh said that, thanks to many years of experience cultivating and caring for cashew trees, his orchard consistently yields high yields. Trees that are several decades old can produce between 100 and 200 kilograms of fresh fruit per season. Over the past three years, his family has been harvesting and selling fresh cashew apples to Hoang Anh Cooperative, earning an additional income of nearly 10 million VND per harvest.

Beyond cashew apple-based products, Hoang Anh Cooperative has developed a range of offerings, including cashew cookies certified as 4-star One Commune One Product (OCOP) and roasted salted cashews rated 3-star OCOP. The cooperative is currently preparing documentation to secure 4-star OCOP status for its cashew fruit sauce.

The dream of taking local specialties to the world

Hoang Anh Cooperative now produces a range of products for the market, including cashew fruit sauce, cashew shrimp paste, cashew juice, and cashew wine. Previously operating on a small scale, the cooperative now has a commercial enterprise partner that has joined as a member, taking responsibility for product distribution and market development. The most challenging issue of developing distribution channels and market outlets has thus been resolved. This year, the cooperative plans to purchase around 500 tonnes of fresh cashew apples as raw materials for processing.

Hieu added that the cooperative aims to continue investing in modern machinery and equipment, expanding production capacity to better meet not only domestic demand but also international markets.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh, Director of AGRI365 Agricultural Solutions Co., Ltd. (Ho Chi Minh City), shared, “The enterprise is not only a partner but also participates as a member of the cooperative, accompanying it closely. Before and throughout the cooperation process, the company has repeatedly visited the site, closely following farmers during harvesting and gaining a thorough understanding of the cooperative’s production process. The company is very confident in product quality because the raw materials are clean, cashew fruits, and the manual processing is safe, thus good for consumers’ health. What the company values most is the great meaning of this production model. The cooperative makes use of cashew fruits that would otherwise be discarded, so farmers have an additional source of income and feel secure in staying attached to cashew cultivation, helping to stabilize the supply of raw materials.”

According to AGRI365 Agricultural Solutions Co., Ltd., the company is expanding traditional distribution channels and focusing on e-commerce platforms. Its strategic direction is to boost exports of cashew-based processed products, positioning them as premium offerings for high-end market segments.

Thanh further emphasized that Hoang Anh Cooperative’s products are made from clean cashew fruits and processed using meticulous manual methods, meeting the strict requirements of the premium market. The cooperative has obtained full certifications for food safety and hygiene, giving the company confidence in distributing the products. The enterprise also feels reassured thanks to strong support from local authorities and favorable conditions for growth. Beyond business, the company aims to help spread the story of cashew cultivation and cashew-based products, thereby building a brand for Vietnam’s cashew capital's specialties.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho