Fruit is a traditional lunar New Year's gift, and imported fruit is increasingly popular on holidays and year-around.
Despite higher prices than domestic fruit, sales of foreign fruit are especially brisk before the Spring Festival, China's most important holiday that begins tomorrow.
The nation's biggest market and distribution point is in vast refrigerated warehouses in Xin Fa Di Market in southern Beijing.
The fruit includes apples from America, cherries from Chile, avocado from Vietnam, kiwi fruit from New Zealand, oranges from Australia, bananas from the Philippines, and wax apples from Taiwan Province - from about 20 countries and regions.
China imported over 1 million tons of fruit valued at US$590 million in the first 11 months of 2005, up 2.7 percent and 8.9 percent year on year, respectively.
The market usually sells between 1 million and 2 million kilograms of fruit a day, said Zhao Yiqun, manager of the fruit section. The figure can reach 3 million kilograms a day during holidays, and 70 to 80 percent is imported fruit, he said.
Ninety-eight percent of imported fruit wholesalers in Beijing do business at the market, said Zhao.
Dealers from Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia go there to buy in bulk and then resell to north China markets.
To guarantee freshness, business usually starts at 1am and ends at 7am, with the peak period around 3am.
In the 1990s, imported fruit cost about twice as much as domestic fruit. In June 1996, Washington Red Delicious apples averaged US$1.44-US$3.2 per kilogram, while top-grade domestically grown Fuji apples were priced at only US$1.2-$2.4 per kilogram.
But prices for foreign fruit plunged after China reduced tariffs in line with its commitments made on joining the World Trade Organization in 2001.
China's recent "zero tariffs" policy for fruit from neighboring countries and regions made it possible for ordinary people buy fruit from overseas.
Longan from Thailand used to cost 15 yuan (US$1.9) per kilogram, and now averages 6 yuan; wax apples from Taiwan once topped 120 yuan per kilogram, now the price is about 20 yuan, Zhao said.
Selling imported fruit is more profitable than selling domestic fruit.
One insider said many imported fruits taste better as well.
"And higher prices make them a good choice as gifts during holidays."
(Xinhua)