This year Panama obtained permission for the first time to export pineapples to the Chinese market. The first shipping containers filled with pineapples set out from Panama last month and made their way to China. The shipping containers arrived in their Chinese destination port this month.
Wei Yuyou of Jiaxing Your Home Fruit Co., Ltd. stated “The Chinese market demand for pineapples grows every year. We already sell pineapples from the Philippines and Costa Rica, but this year we decided to start selling pineapples from Panama as well. The Chinese market is now open to Panama’s pineapples and the first containers have already arrived. We organized a press conference in Shanghai on Saturday the 9th of November. During this conference we officially opened the retail season of Panama pineapples in China.”
Although Your Home Fruit had not yet begun the retail of Panama pineapples when they first arrived, buyers everywhere have already expressed strong interest. “We have already received pre-orders from several companies. Market demand is very strong for this pineapple because this is the first year that Panama is allowed to export pineapples to China. Furthermore, people are curious about Panama pineapples. Panama produces the same pineapple variety as the Philippines, MD2. We have already examined the first container and the product quality is excellent. The sugar content is 16. The first 30 containers have already reached Chinese shores, and more will arrive by ship in the next few months. Our overall sales volume is expected to reach 200 containers by the end of this year.”
“The current price of pineapples in the Chinese market is not that high. Pineapples of good quality cost around 80 yuan [11.44 USD] per box, but pineapples of poor quality and unknown brands only cost around 50-60 yuan [7.15-8.58 USD] per box. However, we predict that the price will rise after Panama pineapples enter the market.”
“First, the product quality of Panama pineapples is good. Second, market demand continues to grow. This will provide a stimulation for the price of pineapples. In the end, we expect the price of Panama pineapples to reach the same level as the price of pineapples from the Philippines. This is mainly because the two countries grow the same pineapple variety and the product quality is excellent. Furthermore, we are only now opening up the Chinese market for Panama pineapples. We still have to establish the name of this brand in the pineapple market. Our online price is extremely reasonable. This also fits with our motto: ‘We bring delicious fruit to the people’.”
In addition to pineapples from the Philippines and Panama, Your Home Fruit also sells pineapples from Costa Rica. The pineapples from Costa Rica already obtained permission for export to the Chinese market years ago. They have a strong share in the Chinese pineapple market.
“We will start the new retail season of pineapples from Costa Rica on the 20th of November. We look forward to and we are happy to supply the Chinese market with a great number of pineapple varieties. We want to give Chinese consumers a greater choice of pineapples. We want to continue to satisfy the growing demand for pineapples. Our company is located in Jiaxing Haiguang Wholesale Market. We are one of the largest fruit retailers in this wholesale market. We occupy an important position in this market.”
Your Home Fruit is a large-scale fruit management company. The company manages a great number of fruits, including cherries, blueberries, plums, grapes, oranges, and nectarines from Latin America, mangoes and durian from Thailand, and bananas from the Philippines. The company is located in the wholesale markets of Shanghai and Jiaxing. There are more than 60 large-scale fruit stores in Shanghai that operate under the banner of Your Home Fruit.”
“The company hopes to expand into department stores, engage the community, and establish a strong brand. They hope to provide a faster, more convenient, and people-friendly service. At the same time, the company works hard to expand their activities and open up new markets in second- and third-tier cities throughout China. In addition to an expansion of domestic business, the company also hopes to reach overseas companies to discuss strategic cooperation.”
