On December 17, the Association of Chilean Fruit Exporters (ASOEX) and Jiangnonghui Market Service Management Company held a launch ceremony for the 2022-2023 Chilean cherry season at the Jiangnonghui Market in Guangzhou (Jiangnan Wholesale Fruit Market's imported fruit section).
The event was hosted by Rodolfo Montecinos, Consul General of Chile in Guangzhou; Zheng Nanshen, the General Manager and Executive Director of Jiangnonghui Market, and Freya Huang, ASOEX Marketing Coordinator.
During his speech, Montecinos highlighted that Chile has become China's second-largest fruit supplier, only behind Thailand. "Chile's cherry harvest season coincides with China's Spring Festival, a holiday period in which the cherry's excellent flavor and auspicious color bring joy and good fortune to Chinese consumers," he stated.
In turn, Zheng noted that, over the past few years, market fruit traders have actively followed the COVID-19 epidemic prevention policies and have overcome the biggest challenge the city of Guangzhou has ever faced. He also said he hoped everyone in the market could join forces to boost the consumption of Chilean fruit.
He thanked the guests and the public present and wished the Chilean cherries achieved great sales this season.
According to the latest estimates delivered by the ASOEX Cherry Committee, Chilean exports will increase by 25% to 446,000 tons in the 2022-2023 season, Huang stated. "This season the Chilean cherry industry has put its best efforts to offer the best quality product in time to celebrate the Chinese New Year holidays. We want them to be able to enjoy the sweet taste of Chilean cherries in these coming holidays, as well as in other moments, such as family reunions, social gatherings, at work or at home," he added.
In 2023, the Chinese New Year will be celebrated on January 22, about ten days earlier than in 2022, which translates into a tighter shipping calendar.
This season's first maritime shipment of Chilean cherries arrived in Hong Kong on December 9, and the arrival of cherries has already entered a period of maximum activity. In the coming weeks, ASOEX, its Cherry Committee, and ProChile plan to organize promotional activities in the wholesale fruit markets of Shanghai, Chengdu, Qingdao, Guiyang, Changsha, and Baoding to help wholesalers and retailers promote the consumption of Chilean cherries.
Source: simfruit.cl