Peruvian oranges, as well as a few other citrus fruits, have finally made it to back China, the land they originated from centuries ago. The first shipment is expected in Shanghai this week, according to newspaper Diario de Yucatan. It concerns the Tangelo Minneola, a species of orange, and the mandarin Murkott.
The historic shipment is the result of a new citrus trade between Peru and China. According to Diana Pita, financial advisor at the Peruvian embassy in China, the export of the fruits constitute, “a milestone in the economic relations of the two countries, and the long anticipated payoff of years of development, primarily in the field of phytosanitary protocols for the citrus.”
The Chinese consumers of Peruvian citrus, says Pita, are relatively well-off buyers who demand quality and safety. This group of consumers is essentially the basis of Peru’s intended competition on China’s markets. According to data, over 300 million Chinese fall under the prospected clientèle.
Competition, however, won’t be easy. China is the world’s fourth supplier of oranges, after Brazil, the US and India.
Author: María Esther Chia