The arrival of autumn means the beginning of the harvest season of tao meo (docynia indica) in Nậm Nghiep Village in the northern province of Sơn La.

Located at an altitude of over 2,000m above sea level, the village is covered in fog all year round, a favourable natural condition for growing the fruit.

According to local Khang Thị Mai, tao meo was planted in the village a long time ago. Thanks to suitable climate and soil, the fruits grown there have yellow and light red colour with typical juicy sweet and sour taste.

Tao meo has been known as a herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart failure, and high blood pressure for centuries. It’s also a key part of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, the fruits have been sold to many traders from nearby provinces like Lao Cai or Yen Bai, bringing high economic efficiency to the region and improving local lives in recent years.

With local authorities’ attention in recent years, the growing area of tao meo in Nậm Nghiep Village has been extended from initial 20 hectares to over 300 hectares. Each kilo of the fruit could be sold from VNĐ10,000-15,000 (US$0.4-0.7). — VNS