Recently, the news of the sharp drop in the price of cherries, known as the top fruit on the mainland, continues to spread. A news story about a person being rushed to the emergency room after consuming 3 pounds of cherries, causing industry losses of 5.9 billion yuan, became a hot topic on January 15th. Various responses have been made regarding this issue.
In recent days, many news reports have circulated online about people feeling unwell after eating cherries. Some netizens believe that the fermentation of these news reports has put the cherry industry in an “unprecedented predicament”.
In a previous report by mainland media, a woman in Guangdong recently developed a high fever after consuming 5 pounds of cherries in one sitting. She had to be hospitalized for fluid therapy, and due to an allergic reaction to medications, she experienced respiratory distress and required emergency oxygen therapy.
Following this incident, a netizen posted a video claiming that each container of cherries has incurred losses of at least 200,000 yuan due to the event. With an expected arrival of 29,000 cherry containers in the country, the total loss is estimated to be 5.9 billion yuan.
According to a report by Duxia News, a visit to the Shenzhen wholesale market and supermarkets on January 13th revealed that this year’s Chilean cherries are cheaper compared to previous years due to increased production. Concerning the news of cherries causing discomfort, some sellers mentioned a slight impact on sales but not a significant fluctuation.
In the Shenzhen Futian agricultural wholesale market and supermarkets, a fruit wholesaler, Mr. Liu, mentioned that the price of cherries is influenced by different brands, specifications, quality, and origins. Mr. Liu stated, “Chilean cherries are already very cheap now. A box that would sell for over 200 yuan at the same time last year can now be purchased for almost one-third of that price.” He added that the price of Chilean cherries continues to fluctuate.
Another supermarket staff member noted that cherries have not been selling well this year compared to previous years, possibly due to the news of people falling ill after eating cherries. “The news about cherries came out shortly after they were on the market, so it might have had some impact. Some consumers are more concerned.” The staff member mentioned that there are still plenty of cherries in the mall’s freezer.
Mr. Huang, another cherry wholesaler, explained that the main reason for the price drop in Chilean cherries this year is the abundant harvest at the production site, with an overall production increase of nearly 50% compared to last year, resulting in sufficient market supply. When asked if the cherry prices would be affected by the aforementioned news, Mr. Huang believed the impact would not be significant, as prices are determined by many factors, and a single news story should not cause a major fluctuation.
Dr. Shu Qing from the Digestive Department of Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital mentioned that some fruits are high-sensitivity foods, such as mangoes, lychees, pineapples, which contain proteins or fibers that can trigger allergic reactions, resulting in itching, redness, and swelling of the lips. While cherries and similar fruits do not directly cause allergies, excessive consumption may lead to discomfort, thus caution should be exercised when eating them.
Currently, over 92% of Chilean cherry production is exported to China.
According to CCTV News on the 13th, recently, over 20,000 tons of Chilean cherries arrived in Guangzhou. With the gradual increase in cherry arrivals, prices have become more affordable.
As reported by Qianjiang Evening News, a fruit store employee in Hangzhou mentioned that the price of cherries has been steadily declining since its market introduction. The price started at around 1,200-1,500 yuan for 5 kilograms and now stands at around 220-230 yuan for 5 kilograms, witnessing an 80% drop in the price.