Winter and spring shoots
Miss Wang explains: “we produce many kinds of fruits and vegetables, but our main product is bamboo shoots. The requirements to plant bamboo shoots are relatively low. We take care to choose good quality roots and conduct periodical weeding and fertilization. Diseases are hardly found during the growth period. The roots are planted underground, instead of above ground where their growth can be easily affected by natural disasters and insects. We produce bamboo shoots and derivative products all year round. The season for winter bamboo shoots starts in November and finishes in February the following year. The season for spring bamboo shoots starts in February and runs until April. Between April and November, we sell products made of bamboo shoots, such as dried bamboo shoots.”
Stable sales
The economic downturn of the summer of 2015 has not affected sales: “in general, the market has not been doing well in 2015. Our sales have not been impacted that much. We sell a high quality product and have a number of fixed clients. Requirements to plant bamboo shoots are not high, but the geographic location is very important. Soil has to be of good quality. Another key factor is abundant rain throughout the year. Currently, there are not many producers growing bamboo shoots. Shoots are produced in the province of Fujian and in the region of Zhejiang. We do not have many competitors on the market. We produce on a larger scale than other growers from Zhejiang. Our products are of better quality than the ones coming from Fujian as we have a better climate in terms of rain and temperature. Market prices are stable, and the price this season is similar to that of last season. Generally, winter bamboo shoots are sold at higher prices than spring bamboo shoots”.
National market
“Our bamboo shoots are sold to restaurants and retail markets throughout China. Our biggest clients come from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Zhejiang. We choose not to sell to supermarkets. Prices that supermarkets offer are so low, that our farmers cannot profit. Until now, we have a stable sales channel. We have invested in new package and storage facilities and use cooled transportation. As a result, our bamboo shoots are still fresh when they reach the client. Bamboo shoots are popular on the market. In China they are regarded as a common vegetable. In 2016, we would like to expand our market in China and find new markets abroad, so as not to miss any opportunities.”
Miss Wenjuan Wang
LianFeng Fruit and Vegetable Cooperative
Website: Under construction
Telephone number: +86 1825 9769 545
Email address: [email protected]
