The signing of a ChinaGAP agreement should not be seen as the next step towards world domination for the country’s fruit and vegetable industry.

Everyone knows already the almost unlimited potential Chinese growers have in export markets, should they wish to use it. And the repeated insistence from one speaker at last week’s Fresh2005 that China has a “helluva lot of apples” can have surprised no-one.

Close analysis of both supermarket shelves and wholesale market stands around the country will uncover a sizeable volume of high quality Chinese fruit. It is here, it is competitive and it is unlikely to go away.

Commitment to assurance programmes such as EurepGAP should actually be welcomed, however. For growers in both the northern and southern hemispheres worried about losing market share to the Chinese invaders, it signifies that there will be a structured approach to market entry and the level playing field everyone craves will, at least in the area of minimum quality standards for supermarket customers, apply.

What established growers must ensure is that while the Chinese production network implements its standards, there is no let-up elsewhere. If Chinese fruit and veg are to make a big dent in the market, competitors around the world need to make sure it is not because they have been left behind wondering.

By the way, am I the only one thinking that any price-fixing cartel in the banana sector must have forgotten to include colleagues in the UK?

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