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A box of mature Zuili plums. [Photo/Tide News]

More than 80 boxes of Zuili plums from Jiaxing in East China's Zhejiang province were exported to the United Arab Emirates for the first time, making their debut in the international fresh produce market.

Zuili plums, also known as drunken plums, are a rare variety grown in Honghe town, Xiuzhou district, Jiaxing. The fruit is known for its translucent amber-colored flesh and sweet, juicy taste, earning it the reputation of a plum that can be "sipped". 

The fruit has a cultivation history of over 2,500 years and was once documented in ancient texts during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Today, it remains a delicacy prized for its scarcity and complex cultivation process.

To tap into overseas demand — especially from Southeast Asia and the Middle East — Honghe's Huirong Family Farm began preparing for exports earlier this year.

With support from Jiaxing Customs, the farm completed necessary procedures, including pest inspections and orchard registrations, allowing the first international shipment to proceed.

Jiaxing Customs adopted a tailored approach for the farm, guiding them through origin certification, packaging plant registration, and compliance with foreign inspection standards.

Streamlined processes such as appointment-based inspections, real-time customs checks, and digital certificate issuance sped up clearance and helped open global opportunities for this fruit.