DFNet

September 29, 2025 | Borneo Bulletin |

The Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) and ORGA Vietnam Co Ltd have partnered to commercialize a new thick-skinned mango variety, LD12, branded as Cat Loc Phat Mango. Developed by crossbreeding Vietnam’s Cat Hoa Loc and the American Vandyke mango, LD12 offers higher yields—2.7% to 4.9% more than Cat Hoa Loc—and superior traits, including a Brix sweetness level of 19.6–23.4%, thick protective skin, and an average weight of 430g. Officially recognized and granted plant variety protection in 2021, the mango has been DNA-verified as genetically distinct.

Currently cultivated on 24.5 hectares across Dong Thap, An Giang, and Can Tho, LD12 is expected to produce around 100 tons in its first commercial harvest between October 2025 and March 2026. The five-year partnership aims to establish a value chain leveraging ORGA’s distribution and processing capacity to grow both domestic and export markets.

SOFRI’s director Dr. Vo Huu Thoai emphasized that this collaboration bridges science and industry, boosts farmer incomes, and promotes sustainable fruit production. ORGA Vietnam’s director, Le Thi Thao Trinh, highlighted the potential for long-term growth and value creation within Vietnam’s mango sector through this initiative.

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