At the end of May this year, the Asia Fruit and Vegetable Exhibition held a China Business Meeting at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, inviting Zhang Chao, the representative of Dole Asia Market, to give his insights on China's pear imports and the pear market.
In terms of industry scale, Chinese pears have been ranked first from 2017 to 2021, and the output in 2021 accounted for 73.5% of the global total output, but the pear export and import volume ranked low. China has the world's largest consumer market and has huge potential.
In terms of varieties, South Africa, Chile and Argentina, the three major producing countries in the southern hemisphere, have similar varieties, mainly Abeta Fetel, Forelle, Packham’s, etc. The main pear varieties grown in Belgium include Conference pears, Doyenne du Comice and Durondeau, of which Conference pear production accounts for 38% of the total production. They are basically late-ripening varieties with a long supply period. These varieties are very storable and can be stored at 1-3°C for up to 6 months, and the supply period can reach 9-10 months.
In the past 6 years, China's imported pears have mainly come from Belgium, and the varieties are mainly long-handled Conference pears. In 2023, the import volume of Chilean and South African pears will both experience explosive growth, but consumer market acceptance remains a major challenge. Zhang Chao believes that there are large differences in the varieties of pears produced in China and abroad. Domestic pears are crisp and juicy, while imported pears are mainly late-ripening varieties with a soft, sticky and delicate taste. The greater challenge is that growers and importers and exporters in various countries do not pay enough attention to pears. Pears are a small category of fruit and are non-standard products. Issues such as cold chain transportation and preservation technology need to be properly addressed.