At the International Strawberry Congress in Antwerp, Huan Zhang of Twinkle Star Berry addressed the Chinese strawberry sector. "In China, the strawberry has become one of the most important fruits. Although cultivation was only introduced in 1915 and only really took off in the 1990s, China now has 140,000 hectares of strawberries, accounting for nearly 4 million tons a year – some 35% of the world's area," he explained.
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"Most varieties are Japanese or Korean and are characterised by a sweet, mild flavour ideal for local consumption but less suitable for export. The red colour and heart shape are also very much in line with Chinese culture, where red symbolises happiness, and strawberries are often given as gifts. A lot of attention is paid to presentation: strawberries are carefully wrapped in plastic, often in luxury boxes or as gift packaging." For European varieties, however, Huan sees less potential in China because of differences in taste preferences.
"Production is spread across almost all provinces, with clear differences by region," Huan continues. "Often these are small-scale family farms of less than a hectare, growing in simple film greenhouses or so-called solar greenhouses. Large-scale high-tech greenhouses also exist, but are hardly economically viable.
While everbearers are increasingly popular in the Netherlands and Belgium, this is slightly different in China. "In terms of varieties, short-day varieties predominate, harvested from November to May. Everbearers do exist, but mainly for the processing industry. There is limited experimentation for fresh consumption, including by Driscoll's and some Chinese breeders. New growing areas are also emerging in high-altitude locations to keep fresh strawberries available in summer."
Exports are still limited. Productions are mainly for China's own market. "But there are opportunities towards Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Russia," Huan points out. "However, major challenges are high labour costs, climate change, varying quality of plant material, food safety standards, and the lack of strong private brands. Nevertheless, there are also opportunities here: with further professionalisation and integration into the wider berry range, China's strawberry sector can further develop internationally."
For more information:
Huan Zhang
Twinkle Star Berry
Tel: +86 15339234241