As the weather gets warmer, more and more snack tomatoes are ready to sell in China. Compared with 8 years ago, the market share of snack tomatoes has significantly improved, people can find it easily in supermarkets or open markets. Now, with more and more promotions by growers, the snack tomato is becoming known as a fruit rather than a vegetable, and many Convenience Stores such as Family Mart, 711, online shops, and personal fruit shops have started to sell them more often.
With more and more tomatoes appearing on the market, the price is starting to stabilise. For example, this year, the price of Fushan 88, a famous snack tomato in China, is relatively stable, much lower than in previous years.
There are several channels for selling snack tomatoes. For small growers, people prefer to do business with small traders, who will go to their farms to pick up tomatoes and then re-sell them. In this way, growers get less profit but with less risk. However, if there is no trader to purchase their fruits, they will lack channels to sell products and could suffer serious problems.
Big greenhouse growers have developed their tomato brand and use their own logos. They prefer to cooperate with powerful wholesalers such as Freshhema (a very powerful retailer in tier 1 cities in China). Some greenhouse growers have even created their own online shop so final consumers can buy direct from them.
The prices vary in different cities with different packages and qualities. For example, In the top-level supermarket Ole' in Shanghai, snack tomatoes can achieve 25 RMB/box with 250g, while in Kunming, 1-kilo tomato may only cost 10-15rmb.
Red is the most popular color in China. Chinese people prefer sweet tomatoes with 10 brix. Some growers mix red, yellow, and green tomatoes into one box, named the 'colorful box.'
Tomato is designed as a gift for friends or family.