Nine Chinese importers will visit orchards in the US apple and pear growing regions of Washington and Oregon next week.
The Washington Apple Commission (WAC) and Pear Bureau Northwest are jointly sponsoring the trade mission of leading importers from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Dalian.
The importer visit comes after China allowed full-access for all US-grown apple varieties in May 2015.
“We think that China would be the third largest marketing for Washington apples in the near future.” Said Todd Fryhover, president of WAC in a company statement. “In addition to the importer tour, w are conducting activities with major retailers throughout China and participating in e-commerce promotions as well.”
Around one-third of Washington’s apple crop is exported to more than 60 different countries, with 3.1m 40-pound cartons of Washington apples worth more than US$53m shipped directly and indirectly to China during the 2014/15 season.
