Greenhouse-grown cherries from China are entering the Vietnamese market at approximately $21 per kilogram, offering a cost-effective alternative to cherries imported from Australia or the United States. In Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Loan recently purchased 2 kilograms of these Chinese cherries for about $50.4, finding them more affordable compared to higher-priced Australian or U.S. varieties.
The choice to buy Chinese cherries is influenced by their cultivation in greenhouse environments with tightly controlled processes, avoiding chemical fertilizers and growth stimulants. Vendors note that these Chinese cherries are relatively new to Vietnam's fruit market, matching the size of Australian cherries while offering a sweet taste and crispy texture.
According to Han, a vendor in Ho Chi Minh City, "They are picked at the orchard and transported by air, arriving in Vietnam within one or two days, ensuring freshness." Due to limited supply, only a few dozen crates are shipped at a time.
Phuong, representing an import company in Ho Chi Minh City, said her firm has imported around 100 crates of these cherries. She advises consumers to refrigerate the cherries and consume them within a week, as they lack preservatives.
A report from Thu Duc Agricultural Wholesale Market indicates that these greenhouse cherries are not officially imported, mostly arriving via hand-carry due to limited production. Yantai in Shandong Province pioneered greenhouse cherry cultivation in China, where prices range from $6.3 to $7.7 per kilogram.
In Wafangdian, Dalian, cherry prices reached $18.2 earlier this year, the highest in China. The country's cherry cultivation area now exceeds 1.5 million acres, a 12% increase from last year. In Shandong, 50,000 acres are dedicated to greenhouse cherries, producing 100,000 tons and accounting for 25% of China's total cherry output.
Chinese growers face rising production costs. In Shandong, building a greenhouse for one acre costs around $21,000, a 12% increase from last year. The daily wage for fruit pickers has risen to $28, a 40% increase since 2020.
Source: VNExpress