Domex Superfresh Growers has sent its first shipment of Gala apples to China, making it one of the first US exporters to send apples to the People's Republic that aren't Red or Golden Delicious.

Domex shipped its Gala apples were shipped to Guangzhou in China’s south on 20 June, with more shipments to be lined up once the new apple crop is harvested, Domex VP of marketing Howard Nager told Capital Press.

“Whether we’re first or not, we will be among many shipping fruit from Washington,” Nager said. “We will ship a little more and then hopefully be in a position to increase shipments as we get into the new crop.

Red and Golden Delicious apples from the US states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho have had access to China since 1993, albeit for a two-year ban on the produce from 2012-2014. Reciprocal full-varietal access was announced by both governments on 26 January this year.

Since then, most US apple exporters have concentrated on Red Delicious shipments, with more than 1m boxes of Reds shipped to China as of 15 June, according to Danielle Huber of the Washington Apple Commission.

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