Domestic kiwifruit will enter the harvest season in mid-August. However, due to high temperatures in many regions this year, kiwifruit experienced "dry flower" conditions during the critical pollination period, which is expected to have some impact on overall production. On the positive side, the increased temperature difference between day and night has helped the accumulation of sugars and dry matter in the fruit, potentially improving its overall taste this season.
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Manager Lu, head of foreign trade at Shaanxi Qifeng Fruit Co., Ltd., explained: "This year, kiwifruit faced high temperatures during pollination, leading to flower desiccation in some production areas. This will affect total output to a certain extent. While we expect some fluctuations in volume, the large diurnal temperature variation is conducive to sugar and dry matter accumulation, so the flavor is likely to be better than usual." He added that as consumers place greater emphasis on quality, such climate conditions may actually help boost market acceptance of kiwifruit.
Qifeng Fruit currently offers red-, yellow-, and green-flesh kiwifruit varieties, including Donghong, Hongyang, Jinyan, and popular green varieties such as Cuixiang, Xuxiang, and Hayward. "Red-flesh kiwifruit generally has a higher sugar content, with Brix levels exceeding 20°," said Manager Lu. "Cuixiang is a green variety known for its sweetness, with Brix above 17°, while Xuxiang offers a stable balance of sweetness and acidity, making it a cost-effective and highly popular conventional choice in the market."
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Regarding exports, Manager Lu noted that domestic kiwifruit exports have continued to grow across multiple markets in recent years. "For Qifeng, besides the European market, we maintain steady shipments to Asia, North America, the Middle East, and other regions. At present, international freight rates are generally stable, and arrival costs remain unchanged." He added, "Our total export volume this season has increased by about 30% compared with the same period last year. Although product prices have declined slightly from the previous season, this has contributed to increased international orders."
"In recent years, we've also been actively investing in new variety development. Our proprietary 'Qifeng No. 1' is a green-flesh variety known for high sugar content and excellent shelf life, which has received positive feedback from the market," Manager Lu revealed. "Looking ahead, we plan to launch more red- and yellow-flesh varieties to meet the preferences of diverse consumer markets."
With 28 years of experience in the kiwifruit sector, Qifeng Fruit has developed a full-chain service system encompassing cultivation, post-harvest processing, cold chain logistics, domestic and international sales, e-commerce, and export. The company currently operates more than 333 hectares of organic orchards and introduced a new line of "Qifeng Ready-to-Eat Kiwifruit" in 2023 to enhance convenience and appeal to domestic consumers.
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Qifeng Fruit will participate in Asia Fruit Logistica from September 3 to 5 this year, at booth 5J13. "This will be our 12th consecutive year attending," said Manager Lu. "Asia Fruit Logistica is a key platform for us to stay informed on international market trends. We hope to further raise global awareness of Chinese kiwifruit brands. As the harvest season begins, we'll also be bringing product samples for attendees to taste at the exhibition."
