Lanzhou has a proud tradition of watermelon cultivation that dates back to ancient times. The Huang Guifei watermelon is a watermelon variety that is characteristic of this area. The fruit flesh is a distinct yellow. The melon rind is thin. The watermelon is quite juicy and has a sugar content of 13%-14%. The Huang Guifei watermelon had already entered the Chinese market one month ago. Manager Guan Li, spokesperson for Gansu Yi Bing E-commerce Development Co., Ltd., recently talked about the production volume and delivery conditions in the Chinese watermelon industry.
"The average temperature in Gansu during the watermelon production season was around 5-6 degrees lower than around the same time last year. The overall production volume of Huang Guifei watermelons declined by 35% as a result of these weather conditions. The watermelons do not look as appealing as last year and they are about 30% smaller than usual. As for the price, the yellow watermelons are normally about 40% more expensive than regular watermelons. The current market price of yellow watermelons is 10 yuan [1.41 USD] per 0.5 kg," explained manager Guan.
"The overall surface area devoted to the plantation of Huang Guifei watermelons is not that large, because this is a local watermelon variety. The overall sales volume is around 35-40 thousand kg per year. Market demand generally exceeds supply and the delivery speed is extremely high. However, since the production volume is relatively small, the sales are usually limited to local markets. This year we also experimented with online sales to reach consumers in other provinces.
"Unfortunately, the watermelons easily bruise during transport because the melon rind is quite thin. We are unable to sell the watermelons if the melon rind splits. The cost price of Huang Guifei watermelon transport is therefore extremely high," said manager Guan.
"We have contacted several packaging factories to solve this particular issue. We hope to optimize our packaging and improve Huang Guifei watermelon transport. We want to safely transport our watermelons to other provinces soon and give an even larger number of consumers the opportunity to taste this unique and characteristic watermelon variety."
Yi Bing E-commerce Development works together with watermelon farmers whose plantations cover a surface area of more than 13 hectares. In addition to Huang Guifei watermelon plantations, the company also has orchards and farms for apples and potatoes. When asked about the future of the company, manager Guan replied: "The European market has a preference for organic fruits. We are currently applying for organic certification for many of our fruits. We hope to develop and expand our export activities. We aim to give the entire world an opportunity to taste the characteristic agricultural products from Gansu."
For more information:
Liu Yibing
Gansu Yi Bing E-commerce Development Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 1773998833