A grower from Dandong in Liaoning province is determined to bridge the gap. Mr Yu has recently grown his kiwiberry plantation to over 33 hectares. The new crop will be harvested in the second half of August.
Kiwiberries that are almost ready to be harvested
Start of harvest on August 22
"Currently we estimate that we will start harvesting the early-ripe Changjiang NO°1 kiwiberries on August 22. In the later half of September, we start to harvest the late-ripe varieties. The whole supply season can last until the end of October. We predict a total production volume of 25 tons," says Mr. Yu from Rishenglin Kiwiberry in Dandong.
Kiwiberry orchards on the grounds of Rishenglin Kiwiberries
The kiwiberry orchards of Mr. Yu were planted five years ago. As of last year, the kiwiberries are starting to bear fruit. Last year, the total production volume was too small for sales. This year, production volume has increased and the kiwiberries will hit the market by the end of August.
"Large kiwiberry cultivation does not yet exist in mainland China. Apart from the small-scale cultivation in Ya'an in Sichuan province, Dandong is the largest cultivation base for kiwiberries. Dandong has a monsoon climate: four distinct seasons with an average year temperature of 6°C to 9°C. These conditions are perfect for growing fruits like kiwiberries."
Kiwiberries when sprouting, blooming and bearing fruit
Transport and storage kiwiberries
"Usually we harvest the kiwiberries when they are 60% to 70% ripe. At that point, the fruits are still firm, so they can be transported over longer distances."
Secondly, kiwiberries gradually ripen after the harvest, but: "when they are placed in a cold storage at a temperature of 0°C to 4°C, the shelf life is pretty long. The berries can last for two to three weeks. If placed in cold storage facilities with optimal moisture and temperature, they can be stored for 2 months. Generally, kiwiberries can endure storage and transportation well."
Applying for organic product export approval
"We are growing organic berries. We do not use herbicides or fertilisers. Instead, we make use of a lawn mower and biological methods to keep the gardens insect-free. The quality of the kiwiberries we produce is pure. At present we are applying for an approval to export natural and organic berries. We hope that, not before long, kiwiberries can be sold on high-end markets both foreign and domestic. If the harvest season is successful this year, we will export our first batch to Singapore."
Developing varietal differences to to promote kiwiberries
"Originally, kiwiberries are a wild berry variety. The fruit was not suitable to sell commercially. In the past few years, we bred and improved wild varieties of kiwiberries following market demands. Now, many of our kiwiberry varieties, like the Changjiang N°1 and Ladan N°1, have been approved by the provincial specialised department. Among them, the Changjiang N°1 is one of five registered high-quality kiwiberry varieties. After some improvements, this kiwiberry plant can be cultivated in any province in China that has a four-season climate."
Dandong Rishenglin Ecological Agriculture Development
Dandong Rishenglin Ecological Agriculture Development was registered in September 2013. The company has been devoted to the development of ecological, organic agriculture with a brand. Presently, the Rishenglin Ecological Agriculture Development has 33 hectares of kiwiberry plantations. The company also spurs farmers in its vicinity to cultivate organic fruits and vegetables. Total production area accounts for 66 hectares of cultivated products include strawberries, blueberries, plums, apples, chestnuts and others.
Mr and Mrs Yu
For more information about Dandong kiwiberries,
Dandong Rishenglin Ecological Agriculture Development
Mr. Yu
Telephone: (+86) 138 4159 8855