This is the time of year when imported stone fruit sells very well in the Chinese market. Commonly imported stone fruits include nectarines, European plums, and Asian plums. The variety of plums is particularly rich and the range of prices is wide.
Guangzhou Green Belt Food Co., Ltd. / Altai Fresh Limited
Mike Wang from Guangzhou Green Belt Food Co., Ltd., recently talked about the wide variety of import plums in the Chinese market. "Import plums generally enter the Chinese market between February and late April. Many of these currently on the market come from Chile. The price of regular plums is around 150 yuan [23.58 USD] per box, but some of the rare varieties sell for up to 200-300 yuan [31.44-47.15 USD] per box. Some suppliers in the industry refer to these plums with the shorthand 'special plums'. This year the supply volume of 'special plums' is relatively large."
Chilean Candy Red plums
When asked about the characteristics of these special plums, Mike explained that they are generally full of flavor, which makes them popular with Chinese consumers, and these new varieties are not as common as regular plums. The scarcity adds to their value. "Although the plum market struggled with a lot of difficulties this year, the special plum varieties are worth keeping an eye on. We hope and expect these special plum varieties will continue doing well in the Chinese market."
Mike also introduced several special plums. The Chilean Candy Red or Candy Stripe plum is a different variety from the Australian Candy Red. According to Mike, "Chilean Candy Red plums are not as large, they are considered medium size plums. Ripe Chilean Candy Red plums are yellowish with red. The fruit flesh is very yellow and sweet. Most plums have a fruit peel that is somewhat sour, but the Candy Red plum is sweet all the way through. That is why the Candy Red is so popular in the Chinese market."
Chilean Cherry plums
Mike also introduced the Sweet Mary plums: "This Chilean plum varieties enters the market slightly later than the Candy Red plums. The size of the fruit is not big, but the fruit flesh is yellow and sweet. This variety is popular with growers and consumers."
And finally Mike introduced the Cherry plums: "Cherry plums are relatively small. The fruit peel is red and naturally speckled. The fruit peel is somewhat sour, but the fruit flesh is sweet. Cherry plums are considered high-end market products in Chile. There are only three Chilean export companies authorized to supply the Chinese market with Cherry plums. However, growers find it challenging to select the optimum harvest time that guarantees peak firmness and sweetness."
Chilean Cherry plums
Mike added that: "Last year the special plum varieties did well in terms of product quality, flavor, and price. This year the flavor is somewhat weak and as a result the price has come down, sometimes by as much as 50%."
Sweet Mary plums
Guangzhou Green Belt primarily deals in the import of Australian and Chilean stone fruits such as nectarines and plums, as well as Spanish and South African oranges, and Chilean cherries. They work together with foreign exporters, farms, and packing facilities. And in China they mainly sell their imported fruit via wholesale markets to clients throughout the country.
For more information:
Mike Wang
Guangzhou Green Belt Food Co., Ltd. / Altai Fresh Limited
Tel.: +86 20 2627 1236
E-mail: mw@altaifresh.com
Website: www.altaifresh.com