HOW VIETNAMESE FARMERS HARVEST AND PROCESS PEPPERCORNS

1.????? Cultivation:

·???????? Planting: The pepper vines are planted and supported on poles or trees.

·???????? Nurturing: Farmers ensure optimal growing conditions, including the right amount of sunlight, water, and soil nutrients.

2.????? Harvesting:

·???????? Hand-Picking: The peppercorns are picked by hand when they are still firm and green. This careful handling prevents damage and ensures quality.

·???????? Harvesting at the right time is important since it affects the pepper's flavor and pungency.

3.????? Processing:

After harvesting, farmers sort the green peppercorns to remove any leaves, stems, or other impurities. This ensures that only high-quality peppercorns make it to market.

·???????? Drying: The just harvested peppercorns are laid out and exposed to the sun to dry. It may take a few days to complete this. In order for the pepper berries to absorb the heat, the farmers lay them out on PP fabric in the sun. ?The farmers take care to maintain a final moisture content of 8 – 10% to prevent mold growth.

·???????? Cleaning: After drying, the peppercorns are cleaned to remove any impurities.

·???????? Sorting: The peppercorns are sorted based on size, density, and color. This sorting ensures uniformity and quality.

4.????? Packaging:

·???????? Grading: The dried and sorted peppercorns are graded according to quality standards.

·???????? Packaging: The final product is packaged in moisture-resistant containers to preserve freshness and quality.