“Christmas Apple” did not boost apple sales
.2019-12-27Christmas is coming, did the Christmas holiday boost apple sales? Apple, pronounced “Pingguo”in Chinese Pinyin and symbolized safe and peace, has been given as a Christmas gift among Chinese young people in recent years. They usually put a nice looking apple such as a “Gansu Huaniu” or a “Red Fuji” into a well-designed paper box and make it as a gift. Nice packaging is eye-catching and is favored by the young people.
According to Mr. Wang Cunbao, director of the Shandong Shouguo Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., although the holiday was approaching, the sales of apple have not been increased much. At present, the apple market is dominated by Gansu Huaniu, Fuji apple and Shaanxi Lechuan apple. The wholesale price of Huaniu apple in gift box is about 12 yuan/kg, and the same apple without box is quoted 9 yuan/kg.
It is reported that in recent years, apple sales during Christmas season are not optimistic. The fundamental reason is that Christmas is from western culture and it has very limited influence on the domestic market. The main consumer group of the “Christmas Apple” is student but now some schools have banned celebration of the Christmas holiday, leading to declined apple sales up to 50% compared to the previous year.
In addition, due to the upcoming Christmas Eve, we see slight increase of Xinjiang Aksu apple sales in the market, but the fluctuation is little. The wholesale price of premium quality apples remains at 95 yuan/8 kg. The sale of “Ugly Apple” from Daliang Mountain is difficult due to its unattractive appearance. According to a grower from Daliang Mountain, the sale is rather difficult at the origin of production because growers’ expected selling price is higher than the wholesale purchasing price. Currently the purchasing price in the origin of production is only about 4 yuan per kg.