From 600 Tons of "Hail-Damaged" Apples to a Sell-Out Success: A Lesson in Value-Added Agricultural Drying

On August 9, 2025, an inspiring story went viral: 600 tons of 'hail-damaged' apples in Shaanxi, China, which were thought to be a total loss, were spectacularly 'rescued'. By being processed into high-quality dried apples, not only were these apples sold out, but they also created a buying frenzy, with sales increasing by 500%.

This story is not just a charitable act; it is an invaluable business lesson for Vietnam's agricultural sector on the power of deep processing and modern drying technology.

1. "Hail-Damaged Apples" and the Plight of Vietnamese Produce: When "Good Looks" Decide Everything

The story of the "hail-damaged" apples is not unfamiliar to Vietnamese farmers. Every year, we face similar issues:

• Post-harvest waste: Tons of agricultural products (fruits, vegetables) are discarded or sold at rock-bottom prices simply because their appearance is not perfect (misshapen, bruised, scarred skins...).
• Bumper crops, falling prices: A situation where supply exceeds demand leads to gluts and plummeting prices.
• Damage from natural disasters: Storms, droughts, and floods affect the quality and yield of produce.

Just like the "hail-damaged" apples, the nutritional value inside Vietnamese agricultural products remains intact. The problem is that we often lack the solutions to turn these "imperfections" into "opportunities."

2. The "Golden Product": The Superior Benefits of Soft-Dried Produce Using Modern Technology

The success of the dried apple story lies not only in rescuing the produce but also in the superior quality of the final product, which offers many appealing benefits to consumers:

• Texture and Flavor: Drying with modern technology gives the product a natural soft and chewy texture, preventing it from becoming hard. The flavor is concentrated, becoming richer and sweeter than the fresh fruit.
• Nutritional Value: The low-temperature drying process helps to preserve the maximum amount of fiber and heat-sensitive vitamins, especially vitamin C.
• Long Shelf Life: If packaged correctly, dried agricultural products can be stored for many months up to a year, solving the problem of seasonality.
• Versatile Applications:
  • Healthy Snacking: Convenient and energy-rich.
  • Hiking and Camping Companion: Lightweight and requires no refrigeration.
  • Baking Ingredient: Can be used in muffins, breakfast cereals, etc.
  • Emergency Food Supply: An important part of a family's food storage.

3. The Key to Success: Daxwell's Smart Heat-Pump Drying Technology

To create a high-end dried product like the sell-out dried apples, the drying technology must ensure one key factor: maximum preservation of color, flavor, and nutrients.

This is where DeAir's Daxwell smart Heat-Pump Dryer comes into play:

3.1. "Cold Drying" Technology for Quality Preservation

The low-temperature drying principle (40-60°C) of the heat pump technology ensures the product is not "cooked," preserving its structure and heat-sensitive nutrients.

3.2. The "Brain" - PLC & HMI Controller

The most outstanding feature of the Daxwell is its ability to program and save custom drying "recipes" for different Vietnamese agricultural products (jackfruit, mango, dragon fruit, medicinal herbs...), ensuring absolute consistent quality for every batch.

3.3. Quality and Reliability from DeAir

As a Made in Vietnam product, the Daxwell adheres to the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, comes with full CO, CQ documentation, and uses high-end components like the Copeland compressor and an anti-corrosion evaporator coil.