China: Increasing demand for Xianju bayberries
"The main cultivation areas of Chinese bayberries are in Zhejiang, Yunnan and Fujian. The bayberries…"The main cultivation areas of Chinese bayberries are in Zhejiang, Yunnan and Fujian. The bayberries from Xianju Country of Zhejiang Province are known as 'fairy berries'. Bayberries from Yunnan and Fujian normally enter the market in May and the Biqi variety from Xianju can be harvested this year between 10 and 17 of June, the Dongkui variety between 16 and 26 of June and some others grown in mountainous areas even later. This year the weather has been stable and the yield of bayberries is expected to be similar to that of last year, with a slight increase in prices," said Mr. Zhengfeng Ying from QingXuan Bay berry Cooperative in Xianju County.
"The plantation of our cooperative is located in Xianju Country of Zhejiang Province with a total area of 600 acres. We have varieties including Biqi, Dongkui and High Mountain Dongkui bayberries. Our bayberries are sold to wholesale (40%) markets and fruit stores (60%) of first and second tier cities through traditional sales channels. Currently, we only manage to sell a small percentage of our products on the e-commerce platforms."
"Apart from its subtropical maritime monsoon climate and four distinct seasons, Xianju County has the perfect soil for the cultivation of bayberries. After years of efforts in branding, Xianju bayberries have become known by more and more people in China and the market demand for them has been growing rapidly. Some bayberries from other regions are often sold under the name of Xianju bayberries. We hope that consumers can be careful with their choices and purchase the real bayberries from Xianju County."