China's fruit & vegetable sector in a changing marketing environment

摘要

China's longstanding potential as a strong competitor in international fruit and vegetable trade will likeiy be realized over the next several years. Although China exports less than 1 percent of its fruit and vegetable production, private-sector investment - both domestic and foreign - is currently creating world-class operations that deliver high-quality fruits and vegetables to domestic and international markets. Over the last two decades, domestic demand has absorbed most of China's gains in production - from 215 million metric tons in 1930 to more than 460 million in 1999 - as the country's population expands and overall income levels rise. Growth in domestic demand for fruits and vegetables, improvements in marketing practices, and China's future agricultural production policies will most likely determine how soon and how strongly China's produce sector affects U.S. and world markets.