In Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities at this time of the year, Kumquat trees were fastened to motorcycle positions avoid and weave through traffic in an orange fog. Families buy them as symbols of luck and good luck for the Lunar New Year, which began on Wednesday.
This year, a hurricane and extreme heat fell into harvest, the values ​​of the temples for kumquats and other holiday -related decorative plants, known as a TET in Vietnam. Some people bought smaller kumquats or changed to less expensive choices, such as orchids or flower branches.
The decorative farmers of the plants are now stuck with unsold stock after months of price change on the market. In the case of Kumquats, wholesale prices initially increased due to limited supply. They then destroyed the lack of demand associated with consumers and the perception that this year’s golf’s Kumquat Fruits fruits do not look very beautiful.
“We are all in a sad mood,” said Nguyen Thi Hoa, who develops Kumquat trees near Hanoi’s Red River for decorative plant farmers in the corner of the capital. The abstract Kumquat trees were standing beside her, each selling for about 600,000 Vietnam Dong, or $ 24. This is at least 40 percent less than in a typical year.
It would be difficult to overestimate how important the Lunar New Year is for the Vietnamese – imagine Christmas and thanks in combination – or how ubiquitous Kumquat trees are throughout Vietnam and parts of neighboring China as it approaches the holidays. Squat citrus plants are a regular presence in lounges, shops and office lobby.
In September, Typhoon Yagi flooded the agricultural land and damaged crops in Northern Vietnam during a critical period of growth for Kumquats and other decorative staples of the lunar new year. Mrs Hoa said that the flood waters from the storm killed about half of the 500 kumquat trees planted.
The highest of the average temperatures and the lack of rainfall also hurt the harvest last year, said Pham Thi Thanh Nga, director of the Vietnam Meteorology and Climate Change.
Extreme weather translates into sharp changes in prices on the markets and sidewalks where people buy lunar new year Kumquats, peach flowers and bananas. The lack of rain also made the Kumquat trees weaker and their fruits less attractive, the farmers say.
“This tree is much less beautiful than I was expecting,” said Nguyen Thi Nguyet, 39, as he inspected a Kumquat pots on a new year -long market for Hanoi this week. The fruits looked smaller and thinner than usual.
The tree still costs the equivalent of about $ 80 or double its budget. Thus, Mrs Nguyet, who works in the Training Department in Hanoi, paid about $ 13 for a bouquet of orchids introduced from China.
Nguyen Thi Loan, a retired teacher, was surprised to see the price in a beam of 21 green bananas found in a plastic tarp: about $ 28. He usually pays just over $ 1.
“These are the most expensive bananas I’ve ever touched in my life,” said Ms Loan, 64, said the flowers and pork sausages hang from her shopping bag. Bananas, fruits for the placement of family altars to honor ancestors are usually the cheapest element to buy for the holidays, but this year is more expensive than meat, he added.
“It’s unheard of,” he said. “It’s crazy!”
The banana seller, Tran Van Huy, 50, did not fall into the price. So Mrs Loan bought a bunch instead of the three she had planned. He said he would add other fruits to the family altar this year.
Price sensitivity to decorative factories is partly a function of the general economic hardship in Vietnam, the NGO Tri Long, an employee of the Treasury, told News Vnexpress this week. Although Vietnam’s economy increased by about 7 % last year, Mr Long said he had not fully recovered from pandemic and natural disasters.
Consumers can be adapted to a volatile market for kumquats and other decorations, changing what they buy, but farmers are still involved with results.
A Kumquat farmer on the outskirts of Hanoi, Nguyen Duc Vinh, said he had lost 40 percent of 3,000 flood trees and high winds by Typhoon Yagi. This was particularly painful because it happened at a time of year, when wholesale traders are starting to inspect Kumquat holdings and orders for the lunar new year.
As the holidays approached, Mr Vinh, 51, raised his wholesale Kumquat prices by about 50 % to cover his labor costs, he said. But traders do not bite, so they reduced them to the normal price of $ 10.
“This boat has become more precarious than ever,” he said.
Nguyen Van Loi, a seller Kumquat in Hanoi, who bought 1,000 trees from Mr Vinh, said on Monday that he still had about 400 to sell, even after cutting half.
“One of the worst years in my 10 years of negotiation,” said Loi, 44, as his wife watered the Kumquat trees to keep them fresh.
A pair on a motorcycle stopped controlling the trees and then driving without buying anything.
Judson Jones They contributed reports.