The Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is cultivated in China, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Australia, Mexico and South Africa. China is the main producer of the fruit.
In Vietnam, lychee is produced at an estimated area of 80,000 hectares. The main growing areas are in the Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province and Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong province. The fruit is also grown to a lesser extent in Dong Trieu district, Quang Ninh Province.
More than 80 percent of lychee produced in Vietnam is the popular ‘Thieu’ variety which is grown mainly in the Bac Giang and Hai Duong provinces. The fruit is mostly grown by smallholders and cooperatives in areas of 1-2 hectares, some with bigger areas of 5-10 hectares. The lychee season lasts about a month from mid June to early July.
During the season, most of the lychee smallholders transport the fruits on their motorcycles to the nearby town ‘collection’ centers, where there are traders, wholesalers, and packagers. The hectic activities of buying, selling and packaging can sometimes lead to major traffic congestion along the main road due to the increased number of trucks and motocycles.
In order to reduce postharvest losses, the fruits are packed in ice filled styroform boxes before being transported by lorries and trucks to other parts of Vietnam and Southern China. The fruits are first pre-hydrocooled in chilled water for 10 minutes, before they are packed in the boxes. Normally each plastic lined ‘cold’ box can accommodate a 10 kg block of ice and 20 kg of fruit. The fruits can last normally last from 3 days to about 1 week in these boxes. However, the fruits can last up to 14 days if transported in a refrigerated truck or containers at a temperature of between 4-5 degrees.
