Whether it’s in the cargo hold or the passenger cabin, China's aviation trade continues to help Chile’s cherry industry grow its presence in the People's Republic.
The industry has embarked on a joint promotion with China Eastern Airlines, which will see cherries promoted to passengers on one of the airline’s most popular routes between Shanghai and Beijing. On the flight, passengers will receive a “winter love sweet” in the form of a pack of Chilean cherries, which are accompanied by serving suggestions and links to purchasing the product through the online platformYiguo.comvia a QR code.
A launch event was held at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport on Wednesday (2 December), which was jointly hosted by the promotion’s coordinators China Eastern Airlines, the Embassy of Chile in China, the Trade Commission Office - ProChile in Shanghai and the Chilean Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX).
“This type of activity, undertaken by our cherry committee is a unique experience that involves actively promoting our fruits on airline flights,” said Ronald Bown, chairman of ASOEX. “Not only will we have our cherries in the flights cargo area – but also on the table tops of each and every passenger travelling on the flight MU5119 from Shanghai to Beijing.”
The promotion forms part of a season-long campaign for Chilean cherries in China, which has the support of ProChile and the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture.
Jorge Heine, Chile’s ambassador in China, said the campaign was aimed at growing the industry’s foothold in the Asian nation, particularly in the lead-up to Chinese New Year when cherries are commonly used in gift baskets.
“Chile is the main supplier of cherries into China, but all of this would not be possible if we did not have an efficient and rapid maritime and airfreight transportation system between both our countries that caters to the rising demands of local Chinese consumers,” Heine said. “We are pleased to support this type of activity that diversifies the distribution of one of Chile’s main export items to China.”
Chilean cherries have been available since October, however, production peaks over November and December, giving the industry a good run into the fall of Chinese New Year on 8 February.
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