Many places in China are rich in peaches. Since June, peaches from various origins have been on the market, mainly honey peaches, yellow peaches, and nectarines.
Jiangsu is one of the main peach-producing areas. Xinyi Junze Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. grows and sells peaches in Xuzhou, Jiangsu. According to Mr. Mao Junze, from the company, the local peach production has increased this year, and the output has increased by 1-2 times compared with last year, and the price has dropped accordingly. Jiangsu peaches have been on the market since mid-June, and the production season will last until September.
"Hot weather is conducive to the accumulation of sugar in peaches, but if there is more rainfall during the ripening period, the taste will become worse. Since the beginning of summer, the temperature in the production area has been relatively high, but there have been several rains recently, which makes the taste of peaches not as good as the same period last year. It is understood that peach-producing areas in other provinces have encountered similar situations." According to Mao, a brix of 12 or more is an upper-middle level, and peaches currently have a brix of 11-12.
In terms of market performance, the current market consumption is relatively sluggish, and the price and sales volume are not as ideal: "From the current point of view, the price has dropped by at least 20%-25% compared with last year. In terms of sales volume, take the fruit wholesale market in Guangzhou as an example. Last year, about two trucks of Jiangsu peaches entered the market every day. With the smooth flow of logistics and the increase in production this year, now there are 7-8 trucks entering the market on a daily base. The market digests at most two-thirds of the volume every day, and a large number arrive in a short period of time, which affects both the price and the volume. In contrast, the volume in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai is relatively good, because the local market is more fond of peaches and the shipping costs are lower. "
In addition, Mao mentioned the challenges encountered in peach planting: "Because peaches are soft, mechanical operations cannot be used and we require a large number of manual operations. As the costs of labor and raw materials continue to increase, the profit of the planting end is shrinking. In addition, the aging workforce makes it more difficult to find workers. If the situation does not improve effectively, we do not rule out planting fewer peaches in the future and switching to crops with more stable yields and fewer labor requirements."
Xinyi Junze Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. is mainly engaged in the planting and sales of honey peaches and yellow peaches. It has nearly 500 mu, around 33 hectares of orchards and its main channels are wholesale markets.