The prices of blueberries in China are seen as “hot in the market right moment” because of smaller and delayed quantities of the world’s leaders in exports of the fruit, specifically Peru. This is the opinion of Yanitza Curonisy who is the director of China operations for Peruvian producer and exporter Agrovision. The woman has lived with her family in Shanghai, China for the over seven years, in order to expand the company’s sales, together with the native Chinese team.
Yanitza Curonisy, the business director of China operations of the Peruvian exporter and producer Agrovision.
“Agrovision are the top exporters of blueberries into China out of Peru. We pack, produce and export our own blueberries. We also operate farms in different countries like Mexico, Morocco and the USA (Oregon). We transported 1,600 containers during the season in 2023. The volume will be a less due to the conditions in Peru however, we’ll be promoting the sales. That is our responsibility to do here at China,” states Curonisy.
China is the third largest blueberry exporter, accounting for 13% of the total exports to the tune of 37,000 tonnes over the course in 2022/2023. China in turn, on average, pays higher per kilogram than the larger markets in the U.S as well as Europe.
What is it that makes their strategy to China unique to take on the vast market? The key factor for the company to increase sales is being in touch with Chinese retailers and wholesale markets on a day-to-day basis. “Our differentiator is the high-quality of our fruit. Agrovision began with the expansion of the brand’s presence within China and I’m based on the mainland of China. Our team is on the market that includes Chinese coworkers who give us regular feedback about the current market conditions and prices as well as on the branding. They inform us about what customers observe, what they think about the brand and how incorporate feedback from our customers who are in the wholesale market. Since last season, we created our own sales platform that you can access here. My Chinese co-worker is the head for the system. The platform is for sales which allows physical sales. The platform determines who we should give the fruits to. We’ll continue to push sales this way in order and see how we improve. We have receivers for retail and wholesale,” Explains Curonisy.
China blueberries sales platform
Ralph Zhou, who manages the platform of Agrovision located in China as the commercial director states that they own an own trading company registered within the Asian nation. “We own our own officially registered business since the month of August in 2022. We are trying to establish our own office for trading in China for the purpose of coordinating all selling activities within the country and manage their supply chain as efficiently as feasible all on our own.”
Ralph Zhou, Commercial Director of Agrovision in China.
The spokesman says that this puts the company in an ideal opportunity to transfer all investment in the development of new varieties on their Peruvian as well as other farms into this market. They are focused on learning about and responding to Chinese customer requirements. “We are more in touch with what is required by consumers in the China market. Through the investment we have made in the fields and packaging facilities we can now ship approximately 800 containers into China. Customers in China are drawn to larger, more firm and sweeter blueberry products,” concludes Zhou.
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Yanitza Curonisy
Agrovision
Tel: +51 1 421 3468
Email: www.agrovisioncorp.com
Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies