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Evaluation of the First China International Fruit and Vegetable
Fair
Approximately 230 exhibitors, a majority from Fujian and its
adjacent provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, and Taiwan,
and a few Asian nations (most prominently the Philippines and
Thailand), inaugurated the First China International Fruit and
Vegetable Fair in Xiamen (Fujian), held on October 11-14, 2001.
Fewer than 10 exhibitors were from Western nations. These included
foreign companies with current representation or agents in China.
Without a significant and visible Western presence, the Fair
was merely a regional event. It drew exhibitors from among manufacturers/producers
of agricultural machinery, agro-chemicals, fruit and vegetable
seedlings, food processing appliance and equipment, food packaging
materials, horticultural products, Chinese tea, fresh fruits and
vegetables, as well as from promoters of Chinese herbal medicine,
leather goods, jade handicraft, binoculars and telescopes, panties
and socks, and ready-to-eat snacks and dried fruit (almond and
raisin).
The fresh fruits on display were guava, papaya, pear, wax apple,
grapes, pomelo, banana, mango, apple, and "fire dragon"
fruit. A variety of sub-tropical vegetables and flowers was displayed
in various booths and exhibition halls.
The Fruit and Vegetable Show was held in conjunction with a UN-supported
forum on agricultural technology. Reportedly, more than 20 countries
attended the Forum to exchange ideas on the status of the fruit
and vegetable industries worldwide. With the exception of the
ATO/GZ Director, the United States was not present at the forum.
The ATO/GZ Director attended the plenary session at which Song
Jian, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference and President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering,
gave the keynote speech on China's agricultural development. Song
showed that he was aware of China's agricultural problems which
included seasonal surpluses, congested
market, products of below world-class quality, low capacity for
food processing and post-harvest preservation. [From the Show,
one got the impression that food processing in South China was
in an early stage of development.]
Song noted that China was the Number One producer of agricultural
products in the world. Compared with world prices, China's fruits
and vegetables are potentially competitive. However, until China
is able to ship its produce to the markets in a timely fashion
and in good condition, it will remain merely a high volume producer,
and the over supply will depress farm incomes rather than enhancing
them.
ATO/GZ Director subsequently found out that the Fair was the
brainchild of Song. Song's position as the President of the Academy
of Engineering probably provided the linkage to the UN agencies
and focused the Fair on agricultural technology which is a much
needed emphasis in China. However, seemingly not knowing how to
organize a technical conference, the organizers, including the
Xiamen Municipal Government, opted to do a multifaceted regional
agricultural trade fair. The result was a haphazard fruit and
vegetable show and a disconnected technical forum.
The Fair was a second rate regional event. No amount of local
hospitality could redeem the waste of time and efforts.
ATO/GZ Director and staff attended the show at the request of
the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. They attended to some trade networking
while in Xiamen.
The event was a partial fulfillment of the UES activity, "Trade
Shows in China."
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