China: Yunnan blueberries hit the market early this year
According to local media reports, blueberries grown in Yunnan province have been available in Kunming fruit markets since November. At the Zhengchang Wholesale Fruit Market, most of the locally produced blueberries come from Chengjiang City. Due to limited supply, prices tend to be higher.
According to fruit traders, one of the most popular blueberry varieties on the market is Eureka. Wholesalers typically sell Eureka blueberries by the box, with each box containing 12 shells for a total weight of about 1,5 kilograms. Depending on the quality, the price of the box ranges from 135 to 560 Chinese Yuan ($18,82-$78,09). At another fruit market, no more than four stalls sell blueberries, with prices ranging from 100 to 160 yuan ($13,94 to $22,31) per kilogram. Some fruit traders have expressed concern about high prices and their possible effects on demand.
Local early-season blueberries typically hit the market around January or February, reaching their peak season in April and May. However, this year, due to reduced rainfall and warmer weather, local blueberries ripened earlier than usual in November. Currently, both imported and locally produced blueberries are available on the market, unlike previous years when only imported ones were available at this time of year. However, this year, given the inferior quality of imported blueberries and the ready availability of local ones, the predominant supply on the market comes from Yunnan.
With the rapid development of the Chinese blueberry industry, the cultivation area and production of blueberries have been increasing every year. Some high-quality blueberries from domestic brands, specifically tailored to the taste preferences of Chinese consumers, have achieved higher prices than certain imported blueberries. A substantial amount of blueberries from provinces such as Yunnan, Guangdong and Jiangxi are estimated to flood the market in December, with total production expected to exceed that of previous years. Due to improved cultivation techniques and certain regions being able to produce two crops each year, there is a high probability that China's domestic blueberries will achieve year-round supply in the future.
In Chengjiang, one of the main blueberry-producing regions in central Yunnan, the total cultivation area has reached 800 hectares this year, with total production valued at 680 million yuan (US$94,8 million).
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