AQSIQ: New Zealand Persimmon Exporters Updated

On July 20, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) updated the names of officially registered New Zealand persimmon exporters. This follows the momentum created last year when New Zealand and China signed a protocol concerning the forthcoming entrance of persimmons into the Chinese market.

Additions to the list include two growers (College Vineyards Ltd and Harpers Vineyards Ltd), two packaging and cold storage plants (New Zealand Fruits Ltd and Kuehne&Nagel), and one cold treatment company (New Zealand Fruits Ltd).

Cultivation of New Zealand persimmons for export began in the 1980s, at which time the main variety was the Fuyu. According to historical data, during 2014, New Zealand’s total persimmon export volume exceeded 1700 tons. Though exports of New Zealand persimmons ship globally, the main export destination is Australia.

In 2016, around 80% of all New Zealand persimmon production was exported. Moreover, the total area of land used to cultivate persimmons in New Zealand spanned across 250 hectares. Their persimmon export season runs from March to August, which just happens to fill the fruit’s lack of supply during the off-season in China.