The Mid-Autumn Festival [10 September, 2022] is fast approaching. Seasonal fruits and festive gift boxes are crowding the market. For some fruit varieties the market conditions improved this week. Around this time last year, when the Mid-Autumn Festival was still three weeks away, the market conditions for many fruits improved because of seasonal developments. This year there are some differences. The impact of the upcoming festivities has been limited. (Photo right: Yunnan blueberries)
Peruvian blueberries had already entered the market in late July and their sheen and firmness so far has been exceptional. The blueberries arrived somewhat earlier than usual and the delivery volume was bigger, so the price is slightly lower than last year. The opening prices of the first containers were 20%-26% lower than last year. The current retail price is around 90-100 yuan [13.20-14.67 USD] per box. Domestic blueberries, however, are doing very well. Some of the Yunnan blueberry brands sell their blueberries for higher prices than import blueberries.
Washington cherries from the USA arrived by sea last week. This week the approach of Mid-Autumn Festival stimulated cherry sales. The current retail price is around 510-520 yuan [74.81-76.28 USD] per box. That is more or less the same as the price of air-freight cherries last week. The season of air-freight cherries is already almost over.
As for import oranges, the overall sales volume is bigger than last week. The price of South African oranges slightly recovered, and the price of Australian oranges remained stable. One trader explained that the delivery volume of oranges declined this week, while demand increased because of the upcoming festivities. That is why the market conditions improved. The trader also said that product movement was much better around this time last year. Even though the price is the same, the sales volume is not as good this year. (Photo right: import oranges)
Several kinds of US stone fruits are available in Guangzhou Fruit Wholesale Market, including Precious Jewel plums, Dinosaur Egg plums, and Beryl plums. The plums are widely available, but market conditions are not great. The prices of Precious Jewel plums and Dinosaur Egg plums dropped by 10%-15% compared to last year, while the price of Beryl plums remained the same. However, product movement is much slower this year.
US stone fruits
The price and product movement of import apples remained stable in the last two weeks. The current price is more or less the same as around this time last year, but product movement is slower. Domestic grapes include Red Globe grapes, Black Globe grapes, and Shine Muscat green grapes. Some traders say that purchase prices are similar to last year for most grapes, but sales are difficult and retail prices are depressed.
Mid-Autumn gift box of apples
Plums from Xinjiang arrive in large volumes and sell well. The retail price of 2.25 kg bags of Xinjiang plums is around 65 yuan [9.53 USD], which is 5 yuan [0.73 USD] less than last week. The product quality and flavor of Xinjiang plums is excellent this year, and product movement is great, but the price is not high. Moreover, the price declines every week. Import coconuts from Thailand sell well, but some traders say that the price is much lower than last year. For example, the current price of Thai coconuts is 65-70 yuan [9.53-10.27 USD] per box, which is 30%-35% less than the price of 100 yuan [14.67 USD] per box around this time last year.
"Rich persimmon" (left) and Xinjiang plums (right)
Some autumn products are already beginning to enter the market, such as seedless pomegranate and persimmon. The brand 'Rich persimmon' is well adapted to the festive atmosphere of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the packaging is exquisite too. There are also some brands that select red Fuji apples in appropriate gift boxes to promote sales during the period leading up to Mid-Autumn Festival.