A few days ago, my wife’s colleague gave her a durian harvested from their hometown. The whole family was craving it, but we ended up saving most of it for our child.

When I saw people selling durians on the street for VND40,000 (US$1.5) per kilogram, my wife said they were probably soaked in chemicals, which was why they were so cheap. But after reading the news, I found out that durian prices have recently fallen at the farm gate as well.

I do not know whether to feel happy or sad for farmers. If prices are too high, they struggle to sell quickly. But when prices are too low, people assume the fruit is poor quality and avoid buying it as well.

It shows how important product marketing is, yet most farmers are still weak in this area. As a result, they repeatedly need “rescue” campaigns when exports face issues.

If they had built a reputation for selling safe, clean and high-quality durians, many consumers would still be willing to buy them at high prices.

Reader Minh Khue

The comment was left on an article about how durian farmers in the Mekong Delta, where the fruit is in season, are selling their harvest on the street to offset losses as many traders have halted buying amid export difficulties, causing prices to drop.

Other readers also chimed in on the stigma surrounding roadside durians:

Reader Ngo Lam:

“I really like eating durians, but I have heard that some farmers and traders use chemicals on them, so I am very hesitant to buy, especially from roadside sellers. I feel more assured about quality when buying from supermarkets.”

Shoe Reader:

“Some roadside sellers put up signs for VND30,000-40,000 per kilogram, but when you actually ask to buy, they bring out misshapen fruits with hard, unripe flesh, saying that is all you can get at that price. They then try to sell you good durians for VND240,000 a kilo.”

Reader mr Tri:

“Given current living standards, buying a durian to enjoy is no longer too costly, so consumers care more about quality and food safety. Even if prices are much higher than they are now, durians would still sell well both domestically and overseas if consumers felt confident in their quality.

Farmers really need to improve their practices to ensure durians are fragrant, tasty and safe while minimizing the use of chemicals or toxic substances. Only then can they compete and succeed in the global market. They should not neglect the local market either.

My family always avoids cheap durians. We only eat them if they are gifted by relatives or bought from reliable sources. Even so, we have only dared to buy them occasionally over the past two years.”

*These comments were submitted by readers and translated into English. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match Read’ viewpoints.