Demand for California grapes has held up in China over the past few weeks, despite the presence of large volumes of fruit in the marketplace, according to the California Table Grape Commission.
In the two weeks ending 14 October, wholesale markets in Beijing, Chengdu/Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen all reported similar sales movement of California grapes to the record 2013/14 season, according to the commission’s Chinese representative.
Those sales rates came amid an abundant supply of grapes in the Chinese market, including large volumes of domestically-grown fruit. While Chinese Red Globe grapes have been in heavy supply, the commission said that California-grown Red Globe were “selling fast”.
Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission, told Asiafruit that all indications from the trade pointed to further strong sales in the coming weeks.
“According to our in-country reports, retailers across the board are planning to handle increasing volumes of California grapes,” she said. “Major importers also report a continued focus on importing California grapes in the coming weeks as they consider them quite profitable.”
Helping that movement along is a series of Fall/Autumn promotions the California Table Grape Commission is running with retail chains in China.
“Our promotional activities include secondary displays of multiple colours of seeded and seedless grapes, California grape samplings and demonstrations, and unique point-of-purchase materials with messages that research has shown will motivate consumer purchase,” said Nave.
The California Table Grape Commission is confident that 2014/15 exports to China will reach similar levels to the record set last season.
As in previous years, 59 per cent of the total volume exported to China is forecasted to move between 1 October and the end of January 2015.
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