Chinese consumers are now able to pre-order cherries from the US using specified section of online marketplace websites operated by dominant Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group, the Internet Retailer reports.
The consumer initially pays a RMB10 (US$1.60) deposit to reserve their box of cherries. The total price of a 2kg box of cherries ordered and delivered using the online service costs RMB179 (US29.21), which is 22 per cent less than the per kilo price of this product in Walmart stores in China.
The service is currently available in 35 of China’s largest cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Produce is picked and shipped from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah, with consumers reportedly receiving their orders as quickly as two days after they are placed.
Tmall were the first e-retailer to offer the service between 27 June and 8 July this year. This resulted in an extraordinary surge of demand, with more than 50,000 orders placed.
According to overseas marketing director for the Northwest Cherries Association (NCA) Keith Hu, over 200,000kg of cherries are expected to be shipped for the month of August.
The US Department of Agriculture’s office in Shanghai worked with the NCA and Tmall to promote US cherries.
“The power and potential of e-commerce in China is unparalleled compared to any other country or region around the world; it has already become a new way of life in China, especially for younger consumers,” Gary Locke, the US’ ambassador to China, told the Internet Retailer.
“E-commerce is bringing about new opportunities for U.S. and facilitating enhanced U.S.-China trade, and we are proud to be serving as a bridge for our businesses into the burgeoning Chinese consumer market.”
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