Apple production stabilising
"Compared to last year, 5% less apples were produced this year due to the dry weather, but the price hasn't moved much. The production season of apples starts in August and goes on until the end of November. The company has three main varieties: Hadanokamuri, Holstein and Fuji, with a respective harvest season in August, September and October-November. The shelf life of some of these varieties is up to a year," says Mr. Zhao Liang from Lixian Richshine Fruits and Vegetables.
Influence of preservation on quality
"Apart from a modern selection and packaging workshop of 7500 square meters, we also possess an adjustable cold storage room that has a capacity for a yearly stock of 15,000 tons. Different apple varieties have different requirements in terms of cold storage. Under a condition of 0°C to 5°C and a moisture level of 85% to 95%, the majority of apples can be preserved for about 2 months. It is certain that the level of preservation has a major influence on the quality of the apples."
Doubled sales
"Under our own registered brand 'Yuanliang Guoshu', 30% of the high-quality apples we produce are sold to the supermarkets and wholesale markets of first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Canton. Of those 30% of sales, 10% is realised through online platforms. The other 70% of the total sales is sold to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia and Singapore. At present, the export price is 1.5 USD to 2 USD per kilogram. It is estimated that we will export this year for a value of more than 25 million USD. There is a lot of benefit from the large investments made by the company this year in cold storage facilities and control techniques. No matter whether you look at the export volumes or the sales volumes in China, the amount has doubled if you compare it to the same period last year."
"The demands and preferences of consumers, inside and outside China, are not the same. Chinese consumers, for example, favour apples that are typically big. Foreign consumers on the other hand show a higher preference for good quality. We are a professional apple cultivation company located in Li county, Hunan province. We also specialise in packaging and export and we are confronted with a market that is constantly in motion. That being said, we believe that we will hold a firm and recognised position in the market of excellent apples."
