"Short-term concentration of consumption leads to rapid price spikes for Yangshan peaches"

The Yangshan peach production season in Jiangsu, China, is nearing its end. This year has been an off year for Yangshan peaches, significantly impacting production. Continuous heavy rainfall followed by persistent high temperatures has led to a marked decrease in output, with smaller fruit sizes. As a result, market performance has been unstable, with prices fluctuating considerably throughout the season.

The most popular varieties of Yangshan peaches are "Baifeng" and "Hujing." Reflecting on this season, Mr. Sun Jianqin from Wuxi Yangshan Taotianxia Ecological Agriculture shared, "Overall, peach sales have been strong, but with lower yields, prices during the peak were much higher than in previous years."

He explained, "Early low temperatures and subsequent drought during the ripening period caused the peaches to be smaller than usual. By late June, just as Baifeng peaches were about to hit the market, half a month of rain caused significant fruit drop and further reduced production. Many Yangshan peaches are used as business gifts, but concerns over the impact of heavy rain on the fruit's taste and appearance weakened demand and drove prices down. Customers waited for clear weather to make purchases."

"When the weather finally cleared, the Baifeng peach season was almost over, and a rush of customers in under a week drove prices up rapidly. For example, peaches weighing 300-350g per fruit in the #20 specification were sold at about ¥180-¥200 per box, which is 30%-50% higher than in previous years. Due to the low yield and the season's imminent end, the market faced a supply shortage."

"However, the clear weather lasted less than a week before the rains returned, followed by continued high temperatures. This affected the 'Hujing' peach, which took over the 'Baifeng,' resulting in a scarcity of large fruits. A single fruit weighing 250-300g is now considered large. In previous years, peaches around 400g were common, but this year, due to the shortage, their prices have soared. Wholesale prices during the peak reached over ¥20 per piece."

According to Sun, large Yangshan peaches are primarily used as business gifts, while small to medium-sized fruits are distributed through chain fruit stores, large supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, and other channels.

Taotianxia cultivates and markets Yangshan peaches under the brands "Zhenzhuangyuan" and "Haotaoqi," both of which have received green food certification.