Customers buy Jasmine 100 rice at a Co.opmart supermarket in HCM City. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The Saigon Union of Trading Co-operatives (Saigon Co.op) on October 27 launched its Jasmine 100 rice brand that meets VietGap standards.

The rice, which satisfies six safety norms, is processed without chemical fertiliser and food ingredients, is not mixed with other rice, has no crop protection residue, and has a traceable origin.

The rice is produced by the Saigon Co.op Agricultural Programme, under which Saigon Co.op co-operates with Vinh Long-based Tan Tien Agricultural Co-operative and special consultant Prof Vo Tong Xuan. GAP Agriculture Company's agricultural extension staff and scientific institutes strictly supervise its cultivation and processing.

Pham Trung Kien, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, said besides ensuring safety and nutrition, the use of 100 per cent organic fertiliser imported from the US is expected to change farming habits, help protect the rural environment and contribute to agricultural development in a sustainable manner.

Jasmine 100 rice is solely distributed at Co.opmart and Co.opXtra supermarkets in HCM City at a price of VND58,000 (US$2.6) per two-kilo package. — VNS