Fresh vegetables from China are reaching supermarket shelves in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, within 48 hours post-harvest, aligning with local demand in this vegetable-import-reliant region. The UAE's desert climate, with high temperatures and humidity, limits large-scale leafy green production. Consequently, Chinese vegetable imports have become a necessary supplement to the local supply.
At a Dubai supermarket, the shelves are stocked with fresh Chinese produce, indicating an increase in imports of cool-season vegetables from China. A manager at the supermarket detailed the cold-chain logistics, explaining that the process, from harvesting in China to display in Dubai, is completed within 48 hours, preserving the produce's freshness.
Zhou Qiang, head of fruit and vegetable procurement at Wenchao Group, stated, "Our customs clearance department collects the goods from the airport and delivers them to our warehouse within four hours. Within another two hours, we will distribute the vegetables to all our stores across the UAE. Throughout the year, Chinese vegetables account for about 60 per cent of our total vegetable sales here."
Chinese cool-season vegetables are also enriching the UAE's culinary scene. Hadi, a restaurant owner in Dubai, was inspired by the unique flavors of Chinese vegetables during his time in Xi'an, China. After returning, he opened a restaurant specializing in Chinese cuisine, where stir-fried Shanghai bok choy quickly became a favorite. Hadi shared, "We didn't know about this vegetable before, but now, thanks to China, we know bok choy. Many people are using it, and we get a lot of compliments, not only from Chinese customers but also from foreigners. They really, really like bok choy."
Source: Bastille Post