Dubai residents pick out waxberries from Wencheng. [Photo/tianmunews.com]
Fresh waxberries planted in Wencheng county, Wenzhou are now available at supermarkets in Dubai, local media outlets reported on June 8.
The waxberries, the first batch of such fruit to be exported to the Middle East country this year, weighed around 300 kilograms and were transported from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport to the United Arab Emirates at 11 pm on June 7.
The Wencheng waxberry is known for its plump, tender, and juicy flesh. It has received honors such as being listed among the "Top 10 Waxberries" in Zhejiang province and received geographical indication certification in 2020.
Zhou Zuorong, president of the Wencheng Waxberries Association, said that the berries being sold in Dubai have uniform standards, with 25 fruits per box, each weighing approximately 12 g and having a sweetness level of 12 degrees. They were sold for about 240 yuan ($33.5) per kg.
Waxberries have a short shelf life of only about 10 days and have extremely strict transportation and storage conditions. So how can the delicate fruit retain its freshness during long-distance transportation?
Zhou explained that after being picked from trees, waxberries undergo processes such as pre-cooling, moisture extraction, sorting, weighing, and sealed packaging before being placed in the refrigeration room and later kicking off their transoceanic journey.
The waxberries are packed with 25 fruits per box. [Photo/tianmunews.com]
