"EU consumers don't know what to do with a pomelo"
China’s pomelo export season to Europe runs from the end of July until the end of December. Export to Russia can last until February. Harvest usually starts a week before the first crop is exported. The citrus fruit only stays in the packing houses for seven to eight days before loading.
During the low season month, from February to July, Xiamen Sonpy prepares for the season to come. “A big part of our work is communicating with and educating our farmers. We talk to them about farming technology and the use of pesticides and fertilizers. We also pay visits to the different orchards that we work with,” says Tessa Wang, international sales manager at Xiamen Sonpy.
Pesticide control
“We work with smaller growers. We have teams that go around the orchards to instruct on the use of chemicals and pesticides. This is what we spend most of our time and effort on in between the months there is no harvest or export crop. EU entry regulations and entry controls are strict, and these checks gives us a competitive advantage compared to other growers. Because we have been on the market for over a decade, we know the standards that we have to achieve. Every other year, EU entry requirements are changed. Through our customers we follow the market closely, and inform our growers when necessary."
“Our growers can use their own planting techniques. For examples, some growers choose to wrap the pomelo on the tree in paper-like bags in the weeks before harvest to protect the skin. Others do not. However, regarding pesticide use they have to follow our strict orders. In total, we work with 30 farmer cooperatives. Before we load and process the new crop, we conduct a number of quality checks. If the orchard delivers high quality goods, we will pay the growers more accordingly.
“Usually prices in China and Europe are similar. Sometimes, however, the domestic market moves faster. For example, it can happen that prices on the national market have gone up, whereas European prices lag behind. Another difference is that, whereas Chinese and Russian consumers prefer large sizes, Europeans prefer smaller sizes.”
Consumption
“European total consumption grew in the 2015 to 2016 season. Exports this season are comparable to last season. The main reasons are damage to pomelo crops due to excessive rain and a season that started with oversupply. When prices on the domestic market jumped up, export to Europe soured. Also this year, in all pomelo growing areas, pomelo plantings have increased.”
“We run no specific marketing campaigns, but we do spend effort in showing our foreign customers how to consume a pomelo. Europeans eat pomelo in an entirely different manner to how we do it in China, which does not benefit the taste of the fruit. Typically, the white pieces of skin that are found around the flesh of the fruit should be taken off before consumption. The pomelo is the tastiest when the individual parts of the fruit are peeled, as the white skin give a bitter taste.”
Step by step process how to peel a pomelo. For a sweeter taste, all white thin peel should be removed.
Newcomers
“The export market is becoming increasingly competitive. The Chinese economy has considerably slowed down in the past year and some factories have closed down. There are people with money to invest, but no business to run. Some of this, what we call ‘hot money’, has been invested into the pomelo industry. These exporters are able to offer the crop at very low prices, but this is not sustainable. Either the quality is low, or they cannot continue to do business in this manner. Meanwhile, they do make things difficult for established suppliers that try to build sustainable businesses.”
Sandi Lai, General Manager of Xiamen Sonpy.
For more information:
Tessa Wang
Xiamen Sonpy Import & Export
www.sonpy.com
Email: [email protected]
+86 1865 9200 533
