No cherries to China — yet


JUDIE STEEVES


Shipments for this year stymied by restrictions that have grower association puzzled.


By Judie Steeves T


here is hope that continued negotiations will open access to China for B.C. cherries by next year, but growers’ hopes were dashed this year by a number of restrictions the Chinese put on an agreement to accept fruit.


One requirement was a mandatory 15-day period of cold treatment once the fresh fruit arrives in China. “That undermines our marketing benefit of sending them fresh fruit by air,” commented Christine Dendy, president of the Okanagan Kootenay Cherry Growers’ Association. ‘That’s unscientific and unjustified. They don’t require that of other countries. U. S. fruit is not held for 15 days,” she adds.


The Chinese contend they are concerned about ensuring no insect pests come in with the fruit, yet the Canadian Food Inspection Agency already inspects fruit for export, looking for insect pests and diseases. “Suddenly some countries want to design their own protocols. It’s worrying if now some countries don’t accept that (CFIA inspections),” said Dendy.


She says B.C. growers were very British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2012 15


disappointed in the outcome for this year, but they are urging the federal government to continue negotiations for an acceptable agreement—one that would allow market access for Canadian cherries to China on rational conditions—equivalent to the terms extended by China to B.C. competitors in the U.S.


“Canada’s existing CFIA inspection and phytosanitary certification protocols are internationally agreed and respected standards. The motive for the Chinese position is not clear,” comments Dendy.


Monitoring of all orchard activity from bud break through to shipping is another requirement, including the paperwork of filling out forms throughout the season.


Fruit destined for China would also need to be segregated in storage from fruit heading for other locations, she says, which would require construction of a “great wall of China” in storage


areas, she commented with a grin. However, having direct access to China would provide far more marketing options for B.C. cherries. And, because there are direct flights, there would be less handling of fruit and a better chance that it would reliably arrive in good condition, contrary to shipping fruit to Hong Kong, to arrive in China through the back door.


Prices should be better for high- quality fruit, so maintaining quality with direct shipping and minimal handling is vital to returns.


Growers are grateful for the efforts of government to work with China to open that market, but further negotiations will be needed, because these restrictions are not realistic, Dendy concludes.


It’s a disappointment because growers had hoped Chinese markets might be open this year to Canadian cherries.


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