300 kilograms of fresh cherries, valued at 6,000 US dollars and exported by Shaanxi Dayuan Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd., were shipped to the UAE by air after being inspected by Weinan Customs under Xi’an Customs, breaking new ground for cherries from Chengcheng. This was also the first time that cherries from Shaanxi had been exported.
These Meizao cherries are grown in Chengcheng County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. The purchase price is 100 yuan/kg, and the export price is 40 US dollars/kg, yielding considerable benefits. Shaanxi is a province with a large planted area, but only cherries from Chengcheng are exported. Why?
First of all, this county enjoys unique geographical and climatic conditions. It is one of the best regions for growing temperate fruits in the world and is a golden area for growing cherry and specialty produce recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Chengcheng is located in the warm temperate monsoon climate zone of the Guanzhong Plain, with an average temperature of 12℃, precipitation of 680mm, a frost-free period of 204 days, and daylight hours of 2,616 hours each year. The area is not prone to cold snaps in early spring, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. It has the highest thermal energy south of Yan'an, Shaanxi. The cherries produced there are high in soluble solid content, firm and crunchy in texture, premium in quality, early in market availability, and resistant to storage and transportation. Most consumers readily love them once tasted them, and they are appreciated by Chinese and foreign markets.
Secondly, local authorities have attached great importance to the development of the cherry industry. A few years ago, the Chengcheng County Party Committee and the county government set the goal of building "the first cherry county in China". Around this goal, they formed a series of policies to develop the cherry industry as the county’s most important industry. So far, the county's planted area has exceeded 100,000 mu, living up to its reputation of being “China's No. 1 Cherry County."
Moreover, the industry implements effective production management techniques. The inspection of pesticide residues, diseases, and pests in fruit exports is particularly strict, as the industry will suffer heavy losses if any issues occur. In order to help companies seize the opportunity in export, Weinan Customs made the registration process available in advance and sent staff onsite to guide companies in strengthening cherry growing, processing, and packaging management, in order to improve product quality management, disease prevention, and control, and obtain export qualifications.
Through phone calls and websites, the customs people have educated companies on customs policies and the standards for pesticide residues in produce and foods in overseas countries, and guided companies to avoid foreign technical trade barriers. It also conducts strict pre-export inspection and quarantine measures and strengthened the quarantine and inspection of diseases and pests in order to prevent common issues in the industry such as improper sorting and diseased fruits, to ensure that they meet the official quarantine requirements of the destination country.
Source: Fruit Observation