"Our crop is listed around the 10th of June and we can supply the market until the end of July. We use fermented manure for fertilisation."
"We sell to specialised fruit stores in neighbouring cities, including Sichuan and Xi'an. Transporting fresh blueberries is tricky. The berries are easily squeezed and damaged and need to be kept under strict temperature control. Shelf life is relatively short with five to six days. The berries are best consumed within two to three days after harvest. We cooperate with external logistics providers that are responsible for the cold chain transport. The selecting and packing process we do in-house at our farm."
Local government support
"We receive support form the local government. The government has helped us with the construction of roads and water supply, and also provides technical guidance. The Shaanxi Provincial Fruit Industry Bureau has, together with the Shaanxi Polytech University, established the Qinba Mountain Blueberry Research Institute. The institute provides technical guidance for blueberry planting, breeding and health and safety standards."
High market value
"Chinese blueberry production has grown significantly in recent years, especially in Dalian and Heilongjiang province. Driving factor behind this expansion is the high market price. Sales volumes have been increasing. Consumer taste for fresh produce is changing and living standards have improved. People value the nutritional value of blueberries."
"Major planting areas are Dalian, Liaoning, Heilongjiang and Shandong province. Large scale cultivation started around 18 years ago. The industry has to develop further. Our greatest advantage is our early availability on the market. The cold weather in January has not impacted our production much. We believe our production will be bigger than last year's. I expect retail prices to hoover around 120 Yuan per kilogram (equal to €16 per kilogram)."
Early blueberries are already available on the wholesale market in Shanghai, coming from Qingdao and the Northeast of China. It will take a few weeks before the new season takes off. Current 1.5 kilogram packages are sold at 150 to 180 Yuan. Boxes containing bigger sizes are sold around 200 to 230 Yuan.
For more information, please contact:
For more information, please contact:
