Regaining Access to China

Regaining Access to China

Regaining Access to China. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The Washington apple industry is breathing a sigh of relief after the announcement on Wednesday that both Red and Golden Delicious apples are now being allowed back into China. Todd Fryhover with the Washington Apple Commission.

FRYHOVER: We’ve been actually working on this for a long time. APHIS has been in negotiations with AQSIQ which is their equivalent in China for several months to try to find first Red and Golden Delicious access required with a longer term goal of full varietal access to China so this is the first hurdle but it definitely comes as positive news to our industry as we look at a record crop volume this year.

This will also be good news for consumers in China.

FRYHOVER: There’s a lot of consumers in China. They enjoy our Red Delicious, in particular large Red Delicious as they approach the Chinese New Year. Red coloration has a significant impact in their thoughts and usually is a sign of good luck so we are looking forward to increased shipments of Red Delicious this coming season.

And with a larger than normal Red Delicious crop this year, timing is perfect.

FRYHOVER: There are more need to export Red Delicious to international markets, in particular when you look at the domestic demand which is trending towards new varieties like Gala, Fuji’s and some of the clubs that are out there so more and more emphasis is being put on Red Delicious in foreign markets and China obviously is a significant marketplace for these types of fruits.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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