On 19 November 2016, the 'Enjoy every moment - Truval Belgian Pear News Conference' was organised by Dole at the Beijing Yongwang Chaoyang Dayue shopping mall. Many leaders of both Dole China and Yongwang China were present, along with the Belgian ambassador to China, Michel Malherbe and his wife Catherine Malherbe.
In fact, the Belgian pears aren't unfamiliar to Chinese consumers. Six years ago, Dole partnered with BFV (Belgian Farmers Vending) for a conference on pears with the aim of giving Chinese consumers a taste of what a safe, tasty and healthy pear could be like. Dole is the main sales channel for Truval Belgian pears on the Chinese market.
The conference opened at the fruit orchard, where Truval Belgian Pears revealed just how their pears get to have such a good taste. The Product Manager of Dole China Department of Commerce, Ms. Gao Ruitong, explained exactly why Belgian pears are different from their Asian counterparts. When Belgian pears are firm, they are crisp and fresh of taste. When the fruit becomes soft, the fruit flesh is fragrant, sweet and juicy. So one fruit can give consumers two completely different experiences. What's more, Belgian pears have a small core, so almost the whole fruit can be eaten right after it has been rinsed clean. The distinctive, elongated shape also singles them out from the crowd and makes them a favourite for everybody in Europe.
During the conference, Dole also invited top chef, Natalie, to show how the Belgian pears can become the centrepiece in a number of exquisite dishes. While seeing how the top chef transformed the Belgian pears into several unique tasting dishes, the consumers expressed how they had a whole new understanding of Belgian pears. Not only can they be eaten fresh right away, but they can also be prepared as a dish with a unique taste for the family.