Passionfruit is fragrant and rich in vitamins. Consumers eat the passionfruit fresh to relieve the summer heat, and the juice is ideal for fruit juice or fruit jams. Moreover, the passionfruit can be harvested in the same year as it is planted, and so the growth period is short and the return on investment is quick. Growing passionfruit is therefore an important strategy for the revival of rural villages in the Chinese countryside. Manager Tan Yuewu, spokesperson for Guizhou Province Congjiang County Qixiang Agricultural Investment Development Co., Ltd., recently talked about current conditions in the passionfruit market.
Passionfruit
"Passionfruit is a subtropical crop with high requirements for soil conditions, temperatures, and weather conditions. Congjiang county falls within the subtropical monsoon region. The weather conditions, water quality, and soil quality are all suitable for growing passionfruit. Our passionfruit plantations grow a number of varieties, including the two major varieties Yellow Gold passionfruit and Purple passionfruit. The Yellow Gold passionfruit variety has the highest standards for weather conditions and soil quality. This variety can not stand high temperatures very well and only grows at elevations of 800 meters above sea level or lower. It requires more water and fertilizer, which means a higher labor cost. However, the flavor is fresher and sweeter. The Purple passionfruit variety can stand higher temperatures."
Passionfruit plantation
There are two passionfruit harvest seasons per year. Fresh passionfruit enters the market in July and November. According to manager Tan, their plantation supplies the market with fresh passionfruit in late July.
"Passionfruit plantations require significant investments in water irrigation, fertilizer, and optimization of soil conditions. The overall surface area devoted to passionfruit plantation in Congjiang county is only around 4,000 hectares. Plantation conditions and the level of plantation technology continue to improve, but this process takes time. Farmers need time to gather experience and cultivate knowledge. The production volume is not yet as anticipated this year, but the flavor is excellent. And the production volume of Purple passionfruit is a bit bigger this year."
Passionfruit plantation
Guizhou is a mountainous region with many mountain slopes and foothills, which makes transport challenging and adds to the cost price of distribution and labor.
"The market price of passionfruit is more or less the same as last year, but the cost price of distribution and labor went up, so we lost the price advantage. That is why superior flavor and product quality are the key to profit. Moreover, we emphasize consumer convenience. For example, every box of passionfruit comes with a spoon that makes the fruit easier to eat. In addition, while we continue to develop the market for passionfruit as a fresh snack, we also take advantage of commercial opportunities in the beverage industry and other processed passionfruit products," said manager Tan.
"Passionfruit has a rich flavor, which is popular in the production of milk tea and other beverages. And because passionfruit is not easy to store, we also developed a passionfruit liquor, which received first prize in the 2022 Guizhou Tourist Products Competition. We also produce dried passionfruit and passionfruit juice. We are simultaneously developing sales channels for fresh passionfruit and processed passionfruit products."
Passionfruit plantation
Guizhou Province Congjiang County Qixiang Agricultural Investment Development Co., Ltd. is a state-supported company with a passionfruit plantation that covers an area of 4,000 hectares. The company provides local farmers with a stimulus for fruit plantation and supplies them with appropriate plantation technology. This helps local farmers lift themselves out of poverty. The company has their own distribution center with facilities for selection, inspection, and packing, as well as cold storage facilities, and the technological support of a specialist from Jiangnan University. The farmers primarily grow Tainong no. 1 and Yellow Gold no. 9.
For more information:
Tan Yuewu - Manager
Guizhou Province Congjiang County Qixiang Agricultural Investment Development Co., Ltd.
Website: http://www.cjqxnt.cn
Tel.: +86 182 1223 9577
E-mail: 312376872@qq.com