Creating Momentum for OCOP Products

The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, implemented across the province since 2018, has opened a new path for agricultural and rural economic development. It has transformed the mindset of local people from small-scale, experience-based production to high-value-added commodity production with standardized quality, packaging, traceability, and clear branding—while still preserving local identity and pride.

The 5-star OCOP product of Hoai Trung Tea Co., Ltd. was widely introduced to delegates at the conference on Tea Industry Development 2025–2030 for the Northern Midland and Mountainous region.

With 20 years of experience in the tea industry, Ms. Bui Thi Mao, Director of Hoai Trung Tea Co., Ltd. (Chi Tien Commune), enthusiastically joined the OCOP program. After a process of learning and upgrading processing and preservation technologies, her company’s products have been certified as 5-star OCOP (the first product in the former Phu Tho province to achieve this rank). Annually, the company exports over 1,000 tons of finished black and green tea, generating hundreds of billions of VND in revenue.

Similarly, Phung Gia Mushroom Co., Ltd. (Binh Nguyen Commune) is currently one of the largest organic mushroom producers in the province. It supplies an average of 450 tons per year under the 4-star OCOP Phung Gia Mushroom brand, creating stable jobs for 15 local workers with incomes ranging from 7–10 million VND per month. Mr. Phung Van Cuong, a company representative, shared: "Building an OCOP product is difficult, but elevating and promoting it to a wide range of consumers is even harder. We always put quality and customer trust at the heart of our operations."

To date, the province has 609 products rated 3 stars or higher, including 503 products rated 3 stars, 100 products rated 4 stars, and 6 products rated 5 stars. In addition, the province also has 4 products from Tam Dao Beekeeping Joint Stock Company with the potential to achieve OCOP 5 stars, and has submitted them to the Central Evaluation Council for national-level OCOP product ranking. It is expected that an additional 80 products will be evaluated and ranked by the end of the year, bringing the total number of products rated 3 stars or higher to 689. In addition, the province also has 4 products from Tam Dao Beekeeping Joint Stock Company with the potential to achieve 5-star OCOP status, and has submitted them to the Central Evaluation Council for national-level OCOP product ranking. It is expected that an additional 80 products will be evaluated and ranked by the end of the year, bringing the total number of products achieving 3 stars or higher to 689.

To create momentum and expand consumption markets, digital transformation—particularly listing products on e-commerce platforms—has proven to be a highly effective and feasible measure. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has implemented synchronous solutions to help OCOP entities access digital platforms, standardize labels, and build a brand image suitable for the online business environment.

This shift toward e-commerce is opening new consumption channels for Phu Tho’s OCOP entities and reflects the province’s determination to digitalize agriculture. This is an opportunity for local agricultural products to reach broader markets and establish a foothold on the national digital agriculture map.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hiep, Deputy Head of the Rural Development Sub-department: "The momentum for OCOP products stems from promoting e-commerce, building green and sustainable value chains, and enhancing quality through science and technology. Key factors include supporting SMEs and cooperatives, providing digital skills training for producers, and leveraging local raw material strengths and cultural identity to create a sustainable competitive advantage."

Quan Lam