The ongoing 2nd Hanoi Agricultural Product Festival in 2023 in the outskirts of Ba Vi District, Hanoi, aims to link the farm produce of Hanoi's craft villages with tourism development.

Local consumers are shopping for farm produce at the fair. Photo: Hoai Nam/ The Hanoi Times

The fair features 100 booths of enterprises, cooperatives and producers from Hanoi's outskirts district of Ba Vi and 23 provinces and cities such as Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh.

The participants showcase nearly 1,000 agricultural products, processed foods, handicrafts, and typical products from various regions evaluated by the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program.

Japan Technology Development and Import Export MTV Co., Ltd. participates in the fair with health products made from agricultural and medicinal plants, such as black garlic, red multiflowered knotweed, red jujube, turmeric, and cordyceps.

Nguyen Thi Trang, the company's sales director, said her company faces difficulties in promoting its products and hopes that more agricultural product festivals will be held so that Hanoi's producers can reach consumers and connect with enterprises from other provinces in technology transfer activities.

At the opening ceremony, Bui Duy Quang, deputy director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency, stressed that the festival is an opportunity for exhibitors to promote their brands, OCOP products, and eco-tourism agricultural models, thereby enhancing the value of their brands. It also contributes to developing agriculture and rural areas, preserving traditional village spaces and natural products.

Do Quang Trung, Vice Chairman of Ba Vi District People's Committee, said the festival is an opportunity for local producers to establish a consumer link.

Currently, the district has 138 OCOP products from 37 units and production facilities that meet three to four-star standards. The district's enterprises, cooperatives, and production units with recognized OCOP products are closely linked in production, processing, and consumption activities.

At the fair, the Thao Hao Dry-Aged Beef Production and Business Cooperative had the opportunity to display many agricultural products and processed foods from the central province of Nghe An, including gio me (cured veal), which is a three-star OCOP product.

Tran Thi Thao, director of the cooperative, said this was an opportunity for businesses to have access to modern retail systems for sales.

"More festivals promoting OCOP and agricultural products are expected to be held in Hanoi to strengthen trade links between the city and localities across the country in the consumption of agricultural products," she said.