Chinese invade bazaars, edge out native apples

[cir]

Jayashree NandiJayashree Nandi, TNN | Jan 30, 2012, 06.32AM IST

I am absolutely sure that our Indian friends here would say that the Chinese have just copied growing apples。

Indians are incapable of competing even with a 50% duty。Mind you，Shaanxi is a remote landlocked province in China，which means huge logistic costs delivering the apples for the India market。Still can't compete。Shame！


NEW DELHI: The next time you see shiny red apples being sold in your neighbourhood, they might just be from China. Every winter, Chinese apples - imported mostly from the Shaanxi province - invade Delhi's fruit markets, giving Indian apple growers tough competition. Being glossy and succulent, they are generally picked up faster than the Indian varieties.

The growing appeal of Chinese apples is a cause of concern for apple merchants at the Azadpur subzi mandi, the largest wholesale market in the country. Trade experts say the jump in imports poses a threat to the native varieties. "Imports have gone up because buyers have to pay only 50% as duty. This should be hiked. The large intake of Chinese apples will continue till May or June. Indian apples fetch a piddling amount since the Chinese varieties are available in bulk. Apples from Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir are more than enough for the domestic market," said the general secretary, Apple Merchants Association, and president, Fruit and Vegetable Traders' Chamber, Metharam Kriplani.

With their entire produce getting sold out at cheap prices, the apple growers of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir are hard hit. The surfeit of apples from the US also eats into their profits. Estimates by the apple merchants' association place the annual losses suffered due to stiff competition somewhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000.

The issue of increase in import of Chinese apples was flagged recently in the Parliament. "Apples from Himachal are being edged out by the Chinese varieties. What's worse, we don't even quarantine these apples and they may contain pests. Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI) has studies to show that these apples can have pests and may lead to diseases," said food policy analyst, Devinder Sharma.

The chairman of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and director of Agricultural and Processed Food Products and Export Development Authority (APEDA), Sanjay Dave, agreed that the market has been swept up by Chinese apples. "They taste bland, that's all I can say. The safety aspect can only be looked into by the Food Safety and Standards Authority that also deals with imported food."

Last year, the Himachal Assembly unanimously adopted a private member's bill that pushes the Centre to levy anti-dumping duty （the Chinese must be the biggest and most generous philanthropists on planet Earth！Hilarious！）on apples being imported from China. "Customers demand greater variety so we stock Chinese apples too. They are slightly more expensive than the Indian ones," said Rajkumar, owner of a fruit and vegetable store at INA Market.

Another fruit vendor, Raju, says the strange thing about Chinese apples is that they taste the same all year round. "Though Chinese apples can at times cost Rs 20 to Rs 40 more than the Indian varieties, people buy them because they look more tempting with their bright red, gleaming surface. They look the same all the time unlike Indian apples," he said.

Chinese invade bazaars, edge out native apples - The Times of India

 

[cir]

pics：

http://www.pg86.net/photo/

http://www.pg86.net/photo/show.php?itemid=7

 

[Bhadra]

Indian system, culture and values are living system rather than cut throat competitive system like the one followed by China. Environments and goals of life are so different. Chinese are ruthless killers. Indians are poised to live and let live in life rather than run a hundred mile and collapse at the end of it.

China has space to grow apples. Indian production of apples is in spite of lack of space. Moreover, why should China export apples when it has millions at home to enjoy the fruits. Just to kill someone else's produce. Hell of a value the Chinese cherish!

 

[p2prada]

The advantage of living in a temperate zone compared to tropical zones.

 

[Ray]

There should be labelling which indicates from which country the product is from.

I have seen glossy apples being sold from the US.

I am told that this gloss is because it is waxed so as to avoid weather conditions affecting the skin.

 

[niharjhatn]

There should be labelling which indicates from which country the product is from.

I have seen glossy apples being sold from the US.

I am told that this gloss is because it is waxed so as to avoid weather conditions affecting the skin.

Indeed, and you are meant to rub off the wax before eating the apple. Whats concerning is lack of QA on the apples - use of insecticides etc.

Logistical costs are probably heavily subsidised by the CCP - this is the typical way China's pseudo-communist/capitalism invades other markets.

 

[sob]

The wax on the apples is edible, i.e it can be eaten without causing any harm to the human body. It is an accepted practice followed by all the exporting nations of the world. Let us not just spread some scare without knowing the facts. This thin layer of wax is used so that the fruit remains fresh for a long period of time.

Regarding Chinese apples, most of the shiny red apples are sold in Delhi with the label of Washington Apples and people do not have any inkling of their true origin. The craze for American goods in India ensures that they are most sought after.

However the Chinese apples shown in this link for cir 11红啊 红啊 红富士_陕西苹果_图库_陕西苹果网 are very delicious and tasty throughout the year and are my personal favourites, and they are indeed sold as Chinese apples.

The trouble with Indian apples is the lack of consistent quality, and the good quality ones appear only for a very short time.

 

[sob]

Indeed, and you are meant to rub off the wax before eating the apple. Whats concerning is lack of QA on the apples - use of insecticides etc.

Logistical costs are probably heavily subsidised by the CCP - this is the typical way China's pseudo-communist/capitalism invades other markets.

It is the other way around. The logistics cost of our apple growers in HP are very high. They do not have a proper road to transport their apples to the main market in Delhi. For years and years they have been after the successive Govts. to buikd the road, and now the contract has been given to a Chinese company but IIRC due to objections from the security agencies it is also on hold.

Congress corners HP govt on apple issue - Indian Express

 

[Singh]

@sob sir,

Yes those Chinese pink apples are tasty and advertised as Chinese, although they have a slight vinegary aftertaste.

Washington Red Apples, the very shiny ones, are indeed from Washington imo. That wax coating helps in preservation, those apples are sometimes almost a year old.

However, that wax coating on apples can possibly trap all the pesticides and insecticides.

 

[sob]

Singh, my neighbour is a big apple wholesaler in Azadpurmandi, and he is the source of the Washington apple story. As per him, if the skin of the Washington apple is thin then it is the American fruit and on the other hand if the skin is thick then the apple is of Chinese origin. Markings are same in both the cases. I hope you are aware of the Chinese oranges being sold in Europe which were labeled as Made in Israel.

My understanding of the wax coating is that it is applied after the apples have been washed properly in a processing plant.

 

[Singh]

Singh, my neighbour is a big apple wholesaler in Azadpurmandi, and he is the source of the Washington apple story. As per him, if the skin of the Washington apple is thin then it is the American fruit and on the other hand if the skin is thick then the apple is of Chinese origin. Markings are same in both the cases. I hope you are aware of the Chinese oranges being sold in Europe which were labeled as Made in Israel.

My understanding of the wax coating is that it is applied after the apples have been washed properly in a processing plant.

Wow I didn't know that.

Is his surname Malhotra by any chance ?

 

[sob]

No they are not Malhotra.

 

[amoy]

My fair lady, the US subsidize their agri produce exp to China. Hope u won't call Obama a pseudo commie this time around
Agricultural Subsidies | Downsizing the Federal Government

Indeed, and you are meant to rub off the wax before eating the apple. Whats concerning is lack of QA on the apples - use of insecticides etc.

Logistical costs are probably heavily subsidised by the CCP - this is the typical way China's pseudo-communist/capitalism invades other markets.

 

[Ray]

They don't call Obama a Commie, but they call him a Socialist.

I believe that is a cuss word in the US!

 

[Ray]

The wax on the apples is edible, i.e it can be eaten without causing any harm to the human body. It is an accepted practice followed by all the exporting nations of the world. Let us not just spread some scare without knowing the facts. This thin layer of wax is used so that the fruit remains fresh for a long period of time.

Regarding Chinese apples, most of the shiny red apples are sold in Delhi with the label of Washington Apples and people do not have any inkling of their true origin. The craze for American goods in India ensures that they are most sought after.

However the Chinese apples shown in this link for cir 11红啊 红啊 红富士_陕西苹果_图库_陕西苹果网 are very delicious and tasty throughout the year and are my personal favourites, and they are indeed sold as Chinese apples.

The trouble with Indian apples is the lack of consistent quality, and the good quality ones appear only for a very short time.

Indian apples are not 'engineered'.

That is why one apple is not the same as another.

Nothing wrong with Chinese apples either. The only thing I am afraid of is that if a worm emerges and starts talking to be in Chinese!!

 

[Param]

Singh, my neighbour is a big apple wholesaler in Azadpurmandi, and he is the source of the Washington apple story. As per him, if the skin of the Washington apple is thin then it is the American fruit and on the other hand if the skin is thick then the apple is of Chinese origin. Markings are same in both the cases. I hope you are aware of the Chinese oranges being sold in Europe which were labeled as Made in Israel.

My understanding of the wax coating is that it is applied after the apples have been washed properly in a processing plant.

Even Chinese apples have thick skin?:shocked:

 

[Ray]

Singh, my neighbour is a big apple wholesaler in Azadpurmandi, and he is the source of the Washington apple story. As per him, if the skin of the Washington apple is thin then it is the American fruit and on the other hand if the skin is thick then the apple is of Chinese origin. Markings are same in both the cases. I hope you are aware of the Chinese oranges being sold in Europe which were labeled as Made in Israel.

My understanding of the wax coating is that it is applied after the apples have been washed properly in a processing plant.

The Chinese are not confident of their products since they are shoddy.

Therefore, they label them as made in any country that is a global leader.

Usual practice.

Some of the apples could be labelled Made in Seventh Heaven too!

You can trust the Chinese to do what they feel like after a dose of .......

 

[Ray]

Even Chinese apples have thick skin?:shocked:

If I go by the reaction of the Chinese here, they have a thin skin and rather organised mind that is practically similar in thought and speech.

Consistency is the Chinese way of approaching life.

That is why it is said that the Chinese apples taste the same throughout the year!

Engineered not to deviate!

 

[sob]

Sir, the Chinese apples available throughout the year is a testament to the cold storage facilities that are available in China. This is a big sore point in our agriculture sector. Due to lack of cold storage/food processing centers we are losing almost 25 to 30% of the crop in transit.

I happen to cross Azadpur mandi ( Asia's largets fruit and vegetable wholesale center) and you should see the way fruits and vegetables come in the trucks. They are just dumped on the back without sorting and not even washed. The sorting out is done in the mandi itself. and the end result is there for you to see.

 

[amoy]

The advancement in cold storage and refrigeration tech /facilities contributes greatly to preservation and distribution of perishables globally. Locally we export a lot of vegetables, tangerine and pomelo to Europe as far as Norway. The transit time may take as long as 40days +/-

Besides improved breeds / inter-breeding is a must. Chinese apples were not that sweet until introduction of a Japanese breed code-named "Red Fuji" （Malus pumila Mill）in 1960's. Interestingly Japanese fostered "Red Fuji" on basis of Chinese breeds Guoguang and Yuanshuai. The rule "Survival of the fittest" is also at work. In my hometown there's a variety of unique red-peel orange. Chinese love the red - color of happiness. However it tastes sour, and is small and seedy thus unpopular when people have a wide array of choices. Or some use it as bonsai for new year decoration. Gradually this species almost gets out of sight.