In response to farmers passing off thousands of Chinese tubers as originating from Da Lat, authorities are installing four cameras and banning soil transportation at the city's produce market.
The measures are in response to an August 21 discovery of a farmer washing Chinese potatoes, covering them with Central Highlands red dirt and distributing them as locally grown to indifferent wholesalers that sell them in Saigon. The ruse means Chinese potatoes bought for VND7,000 per kilogram can be sold for VND20,000 per kilogram, the price of the Da Lat product.
The market is only allowed to sell products of Da Lat origin and authorities estimate that approximately 578 tons of Chinese potatoes worth VND2.2 billion have been imported into Da Lat for sales to date.
The cameras and dirt ban follow a VND1 billion plan announced earlier this year to print and distribute 200,000 branded bags, boxes and stamps for selling Da Lat potatoes. VietnamNet reports that those found counterfeiting the produce post-package availability will be subject to punishment.
Compared to the prized Da Lat potatoes valued for their flavor and freshness, those from China can contain dangerous levels of pesticides. Suspicions about the origin of Da Lat potatoes has eroded customer trust and forced farmers to sell their crops at half their normal prices, resulting in losses. Lam Dong Province, the home of Da Lat, is one of the largest vegetable producers in Vietnam.
[Photo via Creative Commons]
