China 04/04/2023

French baby kiwis now in China

 

Kiwi berries, or baby kiwis, are a bite-sized fruit that is a relative of the kiwi, but without the furry exterior. The fruits are known for their sweetness and smell, similar to a mix of kiwi, pineapple, and passion fruit. In recent years, kiwi berries have become fashionable due to their unique appearance and rich taste, resulting in their high prices.

Recently, French kiwi berries complied with phytosanitary requirements and obtained access to China, making France the first importer of this fruit to China, according to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

GACC requirements foresee good agricultural practices and integrated pest management techniques. The list of quarantine pests of concern includes the fig wax scale (Ceroplastes rusci), the spotted wing fly (Drosophila suzukii), the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), the latania scale (Hemiberlesia lataniae), the Egyptian cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis), the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana), and the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringeae.

Prior to being imported to China, French kiwi berries must undergo cold treatment for at least 14 days at a flesh temperature of 1.1 degrees Celsius or lower, or for at least 16 days at 1.1 degrees Celsius or lower, or for at least 18 days at 2.1 degrees Celsius or lower.

French kiwis are available from the end of October to June, and approximately 75% of French kiwifruit production takes place in the southwestern regions of the country.