Strawberries from Dandong, China, entered the market in early October, earlier than last year. However, early-season supply is lower than in previous years, leading to a 10%-15% increase in origin prices and an improvement in overall quality. Mr. Ma Tingdong, from the Dandong Shengye Berry Professional Cooperative, provided insights into the current production area and market trends.
"The early launch of strawberries requires frozen seedlings and advanced super-forcing cultivation techniques, which have a high technical threshold," explained Mr. Ma. "Last season, many growers struggled with these methods, leading to poor taste, small fruit size, low yields, and disappointing profitability. As a result, many farmers returned to conventional cultivation schedules this year, with their strawberries hitting the market in December. Consequently, the supply of early strawberries has decreased, and prices have risen."
The general quality of early-season strawberries this year has significantly improved compared to last year, another factor contributing to the strong pricing. When first launched in October, strawberries weighing over 15 grams at the production site fetched ￥300/kg, ￥20-￥40/kg higher than last year.
According to Mr. Ma, sales have been relatively smooth this season, although there is an inversion between market and origin prices. "Strawberries are a key fruit in the winter, and distributors aim to secure their share of the market quickly, leading to relatively low selling prices. If they were sold at their typically higher prices, sales would slow down."
Despite challenges in the consumption environment, the early season remains promising. By December 10, strawberries from other regions, including Shandong, Anhui, and Jiangsu, will start entering the market, alongside those from Dandong. Additionally, promotional events like the e-commerce "Double 12" event on December 12 are expected to boost sales. With increased supply and promotional efforts, strawberry prices are likely to drop rapidly, increasing sales. However, competition will heavily rely on quality. Due to weather conditions, strawberries from Anhui, Jiangsu, and other regions are expected to hit the market about a week later this year. Consequently, the overall price reduction timeline may be slightly delayed compared to previous years.
Right: black strawberries
Dandong strawberries are exported to Southeast Asia, Russia, Hong Kong, and other markets. This year, export prices have risen, while export volumes remain close to last year's levels, with smooth sales. "We are currently shipping to the Indonesian and Hong Kong markets," said Mr. Ma. "Last year, Indonesia had ideal sales, with high price acceptance and strict quality requirements. Traders in other export markets are monitoring prices closely. It is estimated that there will be a slight price drop by the end of November, but the reduction may be minimal due to the limited early-season supply and the fact that some distributors are already placing orders for promotional activities. Additionally, high air transportation costs make significant export price drops difficult."
To address market trends, Dandong has introduced non-red strawberry varieties. "Pink strawberries will enter the market later, with export timelines slightly delayed. Black strawberries will gradually increase in volume within the next two weeks, catering to the gift market," said Mr. Ma. Last year, pink strawberries performed well in the Indonesian market, and this year, Dandong aims to promote black strawberries. "Black strawberries are smaller in size but have a rich taste, high Brix, and a strong aroma. I believe they will be equally popular."
Dandong Shengye Berry Cooperative operates approximately 800 hectares of orchards under the "Shengyeguoyuan" brand. Their products include strawberries, blueberries, and kiwiberries, which are sold both domestically and internationally.