Keelings Fruit Growers and Importers has signed a deal with a grower from North West China to import a new variety of korla pear not currently available in Europe.
The deal is part of the ongoing exchanges surrounding the visit to Ireland of Vice President of China, Xi JinPing.
Caroline Keeling, group managing director of Keelings Fruit Growers and Importers, said that she hoped to start bringing in the korla pear from September.
"What makes it special is its extra taste, flavour and sugar, it's a really high quality and high standard pear," Keeling said.
"By setting up this deal we're opening the door to bilateral trade with China.
"There is a need in China for some of our products, in particular high quality berries such as Keelings strawberries and raspberries offer the greatest opportunities but equally as we grow more blueberries and blackberries in Ireland, we hope to find a market in China for those too."
