GoodfarmerCostaRicanpineapples1

The first volumes of fresh pineapples from Costa Rica have gone on sale in China after years of negotiations to open up the world’s fastest growing fresh fruit and vegetable market.

“We’re very excited to see the first Costa Rican pineapples on sale here in Shanghai,” said Procomer Asia commercial director Jose Pablo Rodriguez at last week's consumer launch at a city-centre outlet of Carrefour.

“The market for pineapples here in China is growing at a rate of 40-50 per cent per annum – ten years ago China imported no pineapples at all – and markets like the US and Europe which we've developed over the last 30 years are very mature now. So we’re looking to China for the next 30 years of the development of our industry.”

Goodfarmer, China’s number one importer of tropical fruit, has brought in the first containers of fresh pineapples from Costa Rica, with arrivals of some nine containers or some 200 pallets of fruit per week scheduled for the next several months.

“The quality is very good, the fruit is very crisp, and very sweet,” said Goodfarmer director Jack Gao. “Costa Rican pineapples are a new taste for Chinese consumers, and I am sure they will like them.”


Audio interview with Jose Pablo Rodriguez, Procomer

Audio interview with Jack Gao,Goodfarmer

See photos here.