Golden rambutan, a fruit from Trat, is rapidly gaining popularity. The first harvest of the year has prices soaring to nearly 100 baht per kilogram, with buyers rushing to reserve supplies. Farmers are smiling at the good prices, which help boost family income.
On 29 Mar 2026 GMT+7, a reporter reported that in Village 6, Ban Khlong Aeng, Bo Ploy Subdistrict, Bo Rai District, Trat Province, Mr. Sommai Saengsang, 51, is harvesting the first batch of golden rambutan for the year. This has energized the local fruit market, as traders and fruit buyers continue to inquire and place orders.
Mr. Sommai revealed that his rambutan orchard has over 120 trees, about 5 years old. This year, the fruit has ripened earlier than usual, yielding nearly 100 trees' worth of first-harvest fruit, known as “young rambutan,” which is currently in high demand in the market.
Although some buyers have offered initial prices close to 100 baht per kilogram, he has chosen to delay harvesting part of the crop to wait for larger, bright red, and fully quality fruit before selling. Mr. Sommai expressed happiness that this year’s early rambutan harvest fetched good prices, helping to support his family’s income.
However, production costs remain challenging, especially fuel and labor expenses. While the orchard owner uses organic fertilizer to reduce costs, some impact remains. Most fruit buyers have not yet fully opened purchasing operations and are expected to become more active after the Songkran festival. This makes this first batch of rambutan even more valuable this year.
Finally, Mr. Sommai appealed to the government to help monitor and support fruit prices this season to ensure farmers can maintain stable incomes moving forward.