The Chinese strawberry market continues to show differing trends for various color varieties.
"Affected by the climate, many white strawberry plants died this year, complicating management and reducing production," said Ms. Yu Zhenzhen from Yantai Xiangyiyuan Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. "Despite lower production, the price of white strawberries dropped by about 20%, and the market remains sluggish." She explained, "The decline in market performance is due to two main factors: first, reduced consumer purchasing power; and second, the practice of harvesting white strawberries prematurely in recent years to extend the sales period. This has negatively impacted taste. Many consumers bought white strawberries out of curiosity but were disappointed with the flavor, which significantly hindered the growth of this emerging variety. Currently, sales volume and market activity are low."
Despite these challenges, high-quality white strawberries have drawn interest from export markets, where demand remains stable. "To ensure white strawberries are fully ripe while maintaining a suitable shelf life, significant technological and financial investments are required. This raises the price, but the taste is much better," Ms. Yu added. "Our white strawberries are priced at twice the average market rate. We are primarily focusing on the export market, where demand this year has been stable and is showing signs of growth."
Among non-red strawberries, Ms. Yu expressed optimism about the potential of black strawberries. "Black strawberries have a striking dark black appearance that appeals to consumers' curiosity, and their taste surpasses that of pink strawberries. Additionally, the variety requires advanced management skills, and overplanting hasn't occurred yet, keeping the yield low. In the domestic market, black strawberries fetch premium prices due to their popularity. Seeing the promising market prospects, we expanded our black strawberry cultivation this year, doubling production capacity compared to previous years," she said.
Yantai Xiangyiyuan Ecological Agriculture grows and sells both red and non-red strawberries, with a focus on white and black varieties. Their export markets include the Middle East, Thailand, and Singapore.