Chinese exporter Red Empress made history this week, as it marked Europe’s first arrival of top-quality shipped lychees from Asia.
The lychees were released in Europe on June 14 after 30 days spent in transit and clearing and according to Red Empress’ European office, the fruit has been well received.
The shipments are being sold exclusively through Fruit Traders Ltd in the UK, France, Germany and Sweden.
The company’s Eric Leung said the lychees are a variety unique to China, called Fi tsz siu.
Fi tsz siu is a medium-large sized fruit with a small seed and sweet taste.
Leung said: “Comparisons between the Red Empress lychees with other lychees in the market were very noticeable. Several Chinese market agents in different markets in Europe were surprised at the exceptional good quality of the red Empress lychee.
“These agents could hardly believe our fruit arrived in Europe via sea shipment and not of air-freight route.”
Leung said sea-shipments of lychees had failed in the past, looking mouldy and brown on arrival. As a result, lychees have typically been flown from China, making them expensive at €3 a lb.
However, Red Empress has succeeded in bucking this trend due to its high-quality farm management system, good post-harvest handling and a uniquely advanced cooling system that can immediately cool down fruit to a state suitable for hibernation after picking and sorting, he claimed.
