Châu Thành is one of the 14 districts of Long An province. Formed in the early 20th century, the land that is nowaday’s Châu Thành province has appeared on the administration map during the French colonization of Viet Nam under the name Châu Thành district of Tân An province. The name Châu Thành was used until 1945. After many ups and down, in 1954, the name Châu Thành has officially returned. On 01 May 1989, Châu Thành officially became an administration unit of Long An province. Châu Thành Long An dragon fruit is a famous product in both domestic and international markets, its reputation has been concreted through numerous prestigious fruit competitions and exhibitions. Specifically, in 2012, red flesh dragon fruit of Long An has received the first place in the Fruit Competition of the Mekong Delta held by Southern Fruit Research Institute. Additionally, dragon fruit trademark “Tầm Vu, Châu Thành Long An” has been protected in Viet Nam, the United States,Singapore, China, etc.
Châu Thành Long An white flesh dragon fruit
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Châu Thành Long An red flesh dragon fruit
Châu Thành Long An dragon fruit is famous for its two types, which are white flesh and red flesh dragon fruit.
Châu Thành Long An white flesh dragon fruit weights over 300 gram. The bracts are long with small base, and have the green colour from the base to the tip. The fruit skin is thin with deep red-pink colour. The fruit flesh has opaque white colour, a lot of juice and many small black seeds. The product has a characteristic aroma of dragon fruit, slightly sweet taste with a touch of sourness. Châu Thành Long An white flesh dragon fruit is rich in nutritions with Brix degree of over 10%; acidic content of under 0.5%; Vitamin C of over 8.9 mg/100g; Calcium content of over 43.8 mg/kg; Potassium content of over 2,170 mg/kg; Magnesium content of over 184 mg/kg.
Châu Thành Long An red flesh dragon fruit weights over 300 gram. The bracts are green, and shiny at the curve of the bract. They are thick, long and hard; the bracts around the fruit are curvy, while those near the top are straight. The bract base are well-proportioned with the bract body. The fruit skin is red and thin. Fruit flesh has deep crimson colour, firm and crunchy texture with a lot of juice and many small black seeds. The product has a characteristic aroma of dragon fruit and sweet taste. Châu Thành Long An red flesh dragon fruit has several peculiar qualities including Brix degree of over 10.8%; acidic content of under 0.3%; Vitamin C of over 2.9 mg/100g; Calcium content of over 48.1 mg/kg; Potassium content of over 2,100 mg/kg Magnesium content of over 179 mg/kg.
The peculiar characteristics of Châu Thành Long An dragon fruit are thanks to the unique natural conditions and the cultivation customs of the farmers in the geographical area. The geographical are has the altitude of 0.4 – 6.5m with the riparian topography. The altitude lowers towards the inland and covered by Vàm Cỏ and Tiền river systems, and mostly unaffected by floods. The soil in the geographical area is mostly alluvium, rich in humus and has a high ratio of silt and clay; the pH level of the soil is slightly acidic and rich in minerals such as Potassium and Magnesium and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) at 14.1 meq/100g. The average temperature of the geographical area is 26.3 – 29.40C, with stable amount of heat with no significant fluctuation throughout the months in a year. Total heat accumulation is 2,800 – 3,0000C per annum. Total hour of sunlight is 207 – 282 hours per month (which is over 2,100 hours per annum). The amount of rainfall is 1,301 – 1,798 mm per annum. Relative humidity averages at 78.5 – 87.7%. The geographical area has an abundant water supply mainly from Tiền Giang and Vàm Cỏ rivers with neutral pH level and no salination. The complex irrigation system helps with water drainage in the rainy season and water supply during the summer. Floods, droughts and water shortage rarely happen.
Additionally, the unique traditional cultivation technique of the local farmers such as planting in rows which have drainage gutters, and building ditches to actively prevent floods; properly execution of dragon fruit shaping for consistent fruit shape also help forming the peculiar characteristics of Châu Thành Long An dragon fruit.
Geographical area: Tân Trụ town and the communes of Mỹ Bình, An Nhựt Tân, Quê Mỹ Thạnh, Lạc Tấn, Bình Trinh Đông, Tân Phước Tây, Bình Lãng, Bình Tịnh, Đức Tân, Nhựt Ninh of Tân Trụ district; Thủ Thừa town and the communes of Nhị Thành, Bình Thạnh, Tân Thành, Long Thành, Long Thạnh, Long Thuận, Mỹ Lạc, Mỹ Thạnh, Mỹ Phú, Mỹ An, Bình An of Thủ Thừa district; wards no. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Tân Khánh, Khánh Hậu and the communes of An Vĩnh Ngãi, Lợi Bình Nhơn, Nhơn Thạnh Trung, Bình Tâm, Hướng Thọ Phú of Tân An city; Tầm Vu town and the communes of Vĩnh Công, Hiệp Thạnh, Hòa Phú, Dương Xuân Hội, Long Trì, An Lục Long, Bình Quới, Phước Tân Hưng, Thanh Phú Long, Thuận Mỹ, Phú Ngãi Trị, Thanh Vĩnh Đông of Châu Thành district, Long An province.