September 5, 2019
Sales of Koh Trong pomelo stagnant a year after receiving GI label
Receiving Geographical Indication (GI) status has done little to increase sales of Koh Trong Pomelo outside Kratie province, farmers said.

The pomelo grown in Kratie’s Koh Trong commune last year became the third Cambodian product to obtain GI status, following in the footsteps of Kampot pepper and Kampong Speu’s palm sugar.

The fruit, however, has not gained much in popularity outside the province since, according to the Koh Trong Pomelo Producer Association, who owns 1,200 of the 2,000 pomelo trees in Koh Trong.

Most of the pomelos grown in Koh Trong are still consumed within Kratie, according to Bun Ban, vice president of the Koh Trong Pomelo Producer Association.

He said the fruit cannot be found for sale in any establishment in Phnom Penh, adding that people in the capital that want to taste the fruit have to contact a seller in Kratie directly.

Mr Ban said the reason the fruit has not become popular outside Kratie is that it has not been promoted.

“Pomelos are not for sale in any market or supermarket in Phnom Penh because these establishments simply do not know about them. No effort to promote them has been done,” Mr Ban told Khmer Times on Tuesday.

According to Mr Ban, Koh Trong pomelos sell for about $3.5 per fruit, which is higher than the average price for a non-GI pomelo (about $2.25 per fruit).

Koh Trong pomelos are harvested twice a year – in October-November and March-April.

“Our goal is to start selling in Phnom Penh. We must find ways of improving our marketing and promotion activities so that more Cambodians can taste the fruit,” Mr Ban said.

The pomelo is a citrus fruit, similar in appearance to a large grapefruit, native to South and Southeast Asia.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50640297/s ... -gi-label/

Way way over priced product.

Koh Trong Pomelos Victim of Floods

Kratie, Cambodia News: Pomelo cultivators on the island of Koh Trong, opposite the town of Kratie, suffered from severe flooding by the Mekong this year.
On 22 October 2019, Buth Bo, the president of the island's tourism community said that this year's floods are a serious disaster for the 426 families in his community, who earn a living growing the sought after species of grapefruit. More than 2000 trees have been affected and harvesting has begun early.

Citizens say they are working to restore the grapefruit crop and call on the authorities for support. They need fertilizers, and there are concerns about worms from the ground that are also destroying their crops.

Cambodian Pomelo Exported to Two Foreign Markets
AKP Phnom Penh, May 04, 2020 --

Cambodia pomelo has been exported to two foreign markets, according to a series of reports released recently by H.E. Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

About more 4,000 tonnes of Cambodian pomelo were shipped to Myanmar and Thailand last month, pointed out the reports, but no details on the export as well as the price have been mentioned.

On April 22, 2020, Cambodia exported 300 tonnes of pomelo to Myanmar, and 750 tonnes and 3,000 tonnes to Thailand on April 24 and April 27, respectively.


Cambodia's pomelo is a potential agricultural commodity. The crop is grown in many provinces throughout the country, but the most well-known is in Koh Trung of Kratie province.

On June 25, 2018, the Ministry of Commerce announced the geographical indication (GI) status of Koh Trung Pomelo, a traditional product of Kratie province.

There are currently over 300 families growing a total of 13,790 pomelo trees in Koh Trung, with an annual yield of at least 100 fruits per tree.
By Heng Panha, AKP

Duncan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:08 am Way way over priced product.

like the wine they make, $7.50 when you can get french or spanish or italian for $5

Never heard of the Koh Trung pomelo. Anyone know if there is anything different about this from a normal pomelo? Some kind of special taste?

fazur wrote: ↑Tue May 05, 2020 8:59 am

Duncan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:08 am Way way over priced product.

like the wine they make, $7.50 when you can get french or spanish or italian for $5

italian wine in Cambodia for 5$ incl. shipping from Europe and import taxes/duties and margin of the seller? Wow I wonder what that tastes like.

truffledog wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 2:17 am

fazur wrote: ↑Tue May 05, 2020 8:59 am

Duncan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:08 am Way way over priced product.

like the wine they make, $7.50 when you can get french or spanish or italian for $5

italian wine in Cambodia for 5$ incl. shipping from Europe and import taxes/duties and margin of the seller? Wow I wonder what that tastes like.

its a blend of grapes and wine left over after the main harvest. some is obviously crap but some is reasonable

try it

Cambodia News, Kratie Province: Even in the context of Covid 19 disease, the Koh Trong grapefruit, from Kratie province still retains high prices, thanks to the GI (Geographical Indication) status.

Ms. Chean Nary, President of Koh Trong Grapefruit Association, Kratie Province, said that the price of Koh Trung Grapefruit is more expensive than before it was registered as a trademark. In fact, today, all producers can easily find traders to buy up all their fruit.
Grapefruit farmers on Koh Trong can now sell their fruit for 9,000 riel per fruit and even up to 13,000 riel.


"Before the establishment of the Koh Trung Grapefruit Association here, it sold for 5,000 to 7,000 riel per fruit. But to date, a grapefruit can sell for more than 10,000 riel. But in some seasons, it may fall a little, especially in September and October, because it is pomelo season", Ms. Chean Nary said.

The grapefruit is harvested between September and November, during which time the islanders on Koh Trong will harvest between 1,000 to 2,000 fruits per day.

Considering the high number of fruits that every tree produces a plantation of "grapefruit" sounds like a goldmine at 2-3$ per fruit.