Looking back at the season, Mr. Jiang from Yantai states thatnotwithstanding the cold spring, overall production increased slightly.
The cherries are also sold on the internet more often, because the average quality is higher than in wholesale shops and packaging requirements are higher. Costumers, especially in the south, prefer sweet cherry varieties. Sour cherries are sold less.'
The quality requirements of online shopping allows for a higher price, so farmers can invest more money and effort in cultivation and management. "We now cooperate with the Guangzhou Guangtuo Farmer Development company, a sales partner that also emphasises quality. We are confident that we can guarantee the quality of our cherries satisfies high-end consumers," says Mr. Jiang.
Mr. Jiang not only manages his own cherry garden, he also cooperates with farmers in the neighbourhood when selling Yantai cherries to the rest of China. Mr. Jiang also has gardens with peaches and apples that are about to ripen. "Many fruit farmers start to value quality, so consumers have better tasting fruit and fruit farmers can earn more."
