The production season of Chinese greenhouse strawberries is in full swing. Market supply comes from various production areas and the price shows daily fluctuations. "The daily price is the product of various important factors, and weather conditions in particular. The price of strawberries is currently higher than it was around the same time last year. However, the trend we see every year is that the price starts out high at the beginning of the production season, and then falls as the season proceeds."
"Dandong is located on the 40th parallel north. This is internationally acknowledged as the ideal latitude for strawberry production. The great difference between temperatures during the day and at night, as well as abundant sunshine, guarantee the sweetness of strawberries from this area. Dandong is more or less in the same geographical location as Japan, and the main strawberry variety in Dandong strawberry production areas was introduced from Japan in 1999.
This variety underwent specialist cultivation and is now known as the 99 strawberry. This product variety equals Japanese strawberries in fame, but exceeds Japanese strawberries in sugar content. The 99 strawberry is also more splendidly red, and firm enough to endure transport. The 99 strawberry is quite juicy and fragrant. Strawberries sometimes develop a hollow space in the middle, but this is not the case with 99 strawberry. Some strawberry seedlings have been transported to south China and their fruit enters the market early in October. The quality of these strawberries, however, is not comparable to the strawberries grown in Dandong. The latter enter the market in November or December, and their supply lasts until May in the subsequent year."
The market supply of strawberries comes in small volumes at the beginning of the production season, under regular conditions, and their quality is high. The price is therefore at its highest as strawberries are scarce and their quality is great. Afterwards, as the supply volume continues to grow, the market price gradually comes down. For example, the price of strawberries at the beginning of the production season is around 60 yuan [8.88 USD] per 0.5 kg, but at the end of the season strawberries cost around 15 yuan [2.22 USD] per 0.5 kg. The production season normally begins in November and continues until April or May in the subsequent year." This is according to Meng Lu from Inner Mongolia.
"We cooperate with a farmer from Dandong. He produces strawberries in greenhouses. He supplies us, but people can also go to his farm and purchase directly from him. This is a common trend right now for farmers with greenhouses. This type of activity increases their retail volume. However, there are regional differences between greenhouse farms. The size of strawberries depends on environment, bee pollination, and nutrition. Not all greenhouse farmers are able to guarantee steady supply and stable product quality. This requires years of improvement. The farmer we cooperate with in Dandong has already established excellent product quality and standardized production."
Strawberries do not survive cold storage at temperatures below minus six or seven degrees. They can not be kept directly in the sun, nor in ice boxes because they need to breathe. Organic strawberries in well-managed farms retain product quality for 6-7 days, but then the fragrance and taste begin to decline.
Contact person: Meng Lu
Dandong strawberry farmer and trader
WeChat ID: meng490280627
Telephone number: 18547024855
Contact for bulk supply of cold-storage strawberries