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Tangerine sales back from scare

By Xie Chuanjiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-03 06:56

Sale of tangerines started recovering over the weekend following a fruit fly scare that saw record lows in business in mid-October, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Sunday.

"Tangerine sales in major production areas such as Hubei, Henan, Jiangxi, Sichuan and Guangxi provinces have all begun rising after concerted efforts to boost business," the ministry said on its website.

Sale of the fruit was hit by reports in Sichuan late last month that 10,000 tons of tangerines had to be destroyed in the province because of fruit flies, including maggots found in supplies.

Sichuan officials refuted the reports. They said only 12 tons were destroyed and the situation was under control.

Sales on Friday reportedly returned to 70 percent of the daily amount before the scandal broke out.

In Beijing, sales at the Xinfadi agricultural wholesale market climbed back to 2,000 tons on Friday, compared with 300 tons on October 22.

"The pests had been contained and the situation is under control," the ministry said.

However, industry sources said it will still take time to rebuild public confidence over sale of the fruit.

"Sales are still half that of the same period last year," China Central Television Sunday quoted Xinfadi market chairman Zhang Yuxi as saying.

Sichuan farmer Peng Qianwu was expecting to clear a whole truck of tangerines that arrived three days ago on Sunday.

"Last year, the first truck of tangerines would have already been sold out by early morning," Peng was quoted on Sunday by Beijing News as saying.

November is a peak season for tangerine sales and the ministry said further measures will be adopted to boost sales, such as the exemption of transportation fees of tangerine products.

During a special conference on Friday, Vice-Minister of Agriculture Wei Chao'an also called on all related departments to carry out measures to facilitate tangerine sales.

Similarly, technical training and guidance on keeping tangerines fresh will be organized for farmers. Special arrangements will also be made to address pests and ensure fruit quality.

On Saturday, Vice-Minister of Agriculture Chen Xiaohua helped promote tangerine sales in Yichang, Hubei. Chen ate several tangerines during the ongoing 5th China Agriculture Fair to ease panic over the pests.

Scientists have also told the public not to overreact from the scandal. "Fruit flies are ordinary tangerine pests and do no harm to people," said botanist Zhang Yuxi. "The pests occur in many places every year and can be prevented and controlled."

Tangerine planting areas have reportedly increased by 66,600 hectares annually in the past five years, reaching a total of two million hectares last year.