"From what I know, total kiwifruit production area in China has been growing in the past years, and this year has not been different. Kiwifruit production quantity and quality have been influenced by frequent extreme weather, but in general the production quantity is still growing. This is mainly because of the growth in production," states Mr. Li, a kiwi farmer from Pujiang, Sichuan.
Farmers are transporting freshly picked kiwis
"In Pujiang, there has been enough sunlight, high temperatures and frequent rain at night. This has caused the fruit to have a darker color. However, the taste is better than last year. This is because the government has implemented strict controls on harvest time, to create a brand image for Pujiang kiwis on the market."
Kiwi fields in Pujiang, Sichuan
"Our farm in Pujiang county in Chengdu, Sichuan, has a kiwi production area of 2 hectares (20 mu). Hong Yang red kiwis are being produced here. These kiwis turn ripe from the beginning of August, and are usually picked within 10 days of becoming ripe, after which they are stored in refrigerated warehouses. Last year, the market price for Pujiang kiwis was very good, around 8-9 yuan per 500 gram. The sales success encouraged many kiwi producers to expand, leaving them optimistic for the future."Growing kiwis
"However, things did not go as expected. The current price is around 6 yuan per 500 gram. Compared to last year, that is a drop of 30%. To avoid risks, distributors are now not willing to purchase large quantities for high prices. They only want small quantities to test the waters on the market. Furthermore, many farmers are not approving of the low prices, so they leave their kiwis on the trees, and wait for better prices. Because of these two factors, the market for Pujiang kiwis is depressed."
Sturdy, juicy kiwis
Ecommerce supports growers direct sales
"Apart from selling our kiwis through traditional sales channels to distributors in Chengdu, we also sell them through e-commerce platforms. This will be our third year of using these platforms. The quick development of e-commerce platforms has had a large impact on the market. Currently, at least one third of the purchases by end consumers are made through these platforms. Moreover, sales methods in fruit stores are also changing. People can now directly contact the stores online to make a purchase."
Employees picking kiwis
Pujiang kiwifruit
"Pujiang county in Chengdu, Sichuan, is located at 30 degrees northern latitude. It is widely known as the best region for producing kiwis worldwide. The ecology is excellent, resources are plentiful, and the market base is good. Over the years, 'Pujiang kiwis' have become a geographical trademark. In the past, government controls have not been very strict. To take advantage of the market, many farmers have harvested earlier, when the product quality was not ideal, influencing the market image of Pujiang kiwis. In the last two years, the government has implemented more strict controls, such as have a single harvest time, to maintain the quality of the kiwis, and to realize the development of the industry. This is the main reason that Pujiang kiwis have become more popular."
Contact: Mr. Li
Phone : +86 181 4439 3507