Chinese waxberry growers gear up for global fruit eaters

Waxberry, or yangmei, a fruit native to China, is reaching global fruit lovers and Chinese growers are making efforts to keep up with the demand.

Waxberry trees planted in China take up about 98 percent of global production, while 60 percent of the waxberries in the country come from the eastern province of Zhejiang.

The fruit, commonly grown in the eastern and southeastern regions with a subtropical climate, has a unique flavor that is a mix of sweet and tart and is rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, making it a good source of dietary fiber.

Although waxberries are extremely popular domestically in early summer, exporting them has been a challenge to growers as the fruit is highly perishable, which has limited its presence in international markets.

However, the situation has changed in recent years.

In Qingtian County, one of the largest producing areas for waxberries in Zhejiang, more than 20 tonnes of waxberries were exported in 2023, and the quantity is expected to double this year, according to data from the local customs authority.

The county has been sending waxberries four times a week overseas after the first batch of 1.35 tonnes of waxberries were transported to Madrid, Spain on June 10 this year.

The UK, France, Singapore and other countries are newly added as destinations of export this year, according to Xia Xiaoqing, head of a trading company that serves as the main platform for the export of Qingtian waxberries.

The fruit's unique taste has won the heart of many in the world. On social media, comments such as "So yummy," "Looking so fresh" and "Such an interesting fruit" are commonly seen. 

However, "What we have is far from enough to sell," said Xia.

To meet the demand, local governments, exporters and growers are working together to improve quality and preservation technologies.

A standardized growing mechanism strictly controlling the temperature, irrigation and other details has been adopted by many farmers in Zhejiang to ensure the quality, size and flavor of the fruit. Local agricultural authorities have been sending experts to assist farmers.

In addition, reports show that with the help of advanced preservation technologies, such as the controlled atmosphere packaging technology, the shelf life of waxberries has been extended to nearly 30 days, instead of just one or two days in natural conditions.

Furthermore, at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, a major logistic base for the fruit, Hangzhou Customs has opened a green channel during harvesting season, fast-tracking customs clearance.

(Cover image via CFP)