Chinese growers are planning to expand the export of fresh waxberries harvested in east China's Zhejiang Province to more countries in addition to current marketplaces in Europe and Southeast Asia this year.
The waxberries grew in greenhouses in Zhejiang's Qingtian County were picked in the early morning of Sunday before loaded to refrigerated vehicles and transported to a local intensive processing and storage park for sorting and packaging, then sent to Pudong Airport in neighboring Shanghai for flight to European marketplaces including Madrid.
"This shipment consists of a total of 450 boxes of waxberries for export to for Spain. They were picked in the morning, packaged in the factory in the afternoon, and shipped to Shanghai in the evening, and should be able to arrive in Madrid in 24 hours," said Xia Xiaoqing, an employee of a local trade company.
The waxberry is popular throughout China for its taste and nutritive value. This versatile fruit is also plugged as the next big "super fruit" due to its high content of antioxidants.
But the fruit has a short shelf life and is difficult to store. Therefore, producers in Qingtian County have adopted a new anti-atomization cold chain packaging to keep the freshness during long-distance shipment.
According to local culture and tourism authorities, the Qingtian waxberries are now able to reach 146 cities across China via high-speed trains and cargo flights, and can even arrive in 19 Chinese cities on the day of picking.
The Qingtian waxberries have also reached consumers in Europe and Southeast Asia. In 2023, Qingtian County exported more than 20 tons of waxberries, with a sales volume of 370,000 euros.
The waxberry growers are planning to further expand the export and let their high-quality fruits enter more overseas markets.
"We will export them to more countries this year, like Britain, France, plus Singapore and Indonesia. So, the sales volume of this year is likely to double that of last year," Xia said.
Chinese growers aim to expand export of freshly picked waxberries
Scenic spots were shut, crops were harvested and residents were evacuated to temporary shelters on Sunday in east China's Zhejiang Province, as the East China Sea coastal province took proactive steps to safeguard local residential communities before the arrival of Typhoon Bebica.
Typhoon Bebinca, the 13th this year, made landfall near the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Monday morning.
Before its landfall, the scenic spot of Haitian Yizhou (which literally means "Ocean-Heaven Shoal"), nestled on the Hangzhou Bay Cross-Sea Bridge, was abruptly closed on Sunday morning.
Unwary travelers who ventured there were promptly advised to depart, with local authorities also temporarily blocking access roads.
In Huzhou, a city of Zhejiang, gusts whipped up waves as high as two meters along the south bank of Lake Taihu on Sunday afternoon, prompting the closure of the scenic area and the safe evacuation of visitors.
Similar protective measures were enacted in Wenzhou, where a beach was closed.
To protect mature farm crops from the onslaught of Bebica, efforts have been made throughout Zhejiang to harvest those that are ripe for picking. In the city of Pinghu, farmers were seen toiling diligently to gather their ripe yields before the arrival of the typhoon.
Greenhouses across the region were reinforced to resist the battering winds and heavy rains, with meticulous drainage preparations underway to protect from waterlogging.
In Tongxiang City, farmers hastened the persimmon harvest to prevent fruit loss.
"For us, the top priority is to finish persimmons harvest before the typhoon arrives. Persimmons are heavy, and once the rain comes, they may easily fall onto the ground," said Yang Mengxian, a farmer.
The aquaculture community also sprang into action, accelerating the harvest of aquatic goods and fortifying their dwellings in key bases like Ninghai and Cixi.
As a precaution, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a directive to enhance coordination of cold storage facilities for storing freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, aiming to minimize the impact of the typhoon on agricultural production.
Temporary shelters have been put into use in Ningbo to house residents evacuated from vulnerable or dilapidated structures prone to geological disasters and flash floods.
As the Mid-autumn Festival draws near, a time for family reunions, evacuees were not only provided with essential supplies but also traditional mooncakes.
An indoor stadium of a local primary school, which has been repurposed as a temporary shelter for the first time, started to receive local residents evacuated.
"People keeps coming to this site, and locals prefers staying at this shelter when the typhoon hits. Once the rainstorm subsides, we will send them back home safe and sound," said Zhou Shanhua, manager of the temporary shelter.
To cope with Typhoon Bebica, Daishan County of Zhejiang's Zhoushan City has set up 14 temporary shelters.
The largest venue, situated within a local school, has already received over 1,500 evacuees transported from a nearby island, ensuring their safety and well-being.
East China's Zhejiang takes precautions against Typhoon Bebica
East China's Zhejiang takes precautions against Typhoon Bebica
