Asiafruit Congress 2009 panel

China's growing prominence on the global produce stage was highlighted at last week’s Asiafruit Congress, which took place in Hong Kong.

Dr Nigel Kerby of Mylnefield Research Services revealed that raspberry production under the group’s JV for growing and marketing soft fruit in China – Danasia – will match that of Spain by 2014. With current production standing at 100ha, Danasia has a target to plant 1,000ha within five years, he said.

Mylnefield is the commercialisation arm of the Scottish Crop Research Institute, which last year signed a deal to grow and market its proprietary raspberry varieties near Beijing with Chinese and Danish partners.

Meanwhile, Hans Peter Reust of Star Farm Agricultural Consulting, a subsidiary of the Metro Group, told delegates that Metro plans to have its Star Farm food safety and traceability system in place on 100 per cent of the farms it sources from in China by 2020, up from 20 per cent of these farms in 2010.

A full report on Asia Fruit Logistica and Asiafruit Congress will appear in the September/October issue of Asiafruit Magazine. To order your copy, email subscriptions@fruitnet.com