China News Service, Shanghai, November 8th. Title: Looking for "taste" at the Expo: fresh seafood and strong Chinese flavor
China News Service reporter Zhao Qiang
The 9th China International Import Expo is being held in Shanghai. In the food and agricultural products exhibition area, people's voices filled the aisles with the aroma of fruit. The staff cut open a Peruvian blueberry, revealing the light green pulp, and onlookers came closer to take pictures.
This Peruvian blueberry, with a fruit diameter of about 28 millimeters, is the world's first new product at this CIIE. As soon as the tasting plate was placed on the table, the queue reached the entrance of the aisle. Someone bit into half of it and held it up to look at the light. Those who tasted food and asked for prices squeezed the small booth into a small market.
On November 7, Peruvian blueberries with a fruit diameter of about 28 mm attracted people to watch and take photos. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhao Qiang
This CIIE attracted the participation of 162 countries, regions and international organizations, and the total exhibition area exceeded 440,000 square meters for the first time. Among them, many "sea food" and "overseas Chinese food" are praised by people.
In front of the Golden Wing Mau booth, Joyvio Crunchberry was placed in the center of the countertop, which was particularly eye-catching. This company is a "full-time student" of the ninth CIIE, and this time it brought a variety of first-time fresh fruits. Before the direct flight from Chancai Port to Shanghai was launched, it took more than 30 days to travel by sea; now it takes about 20 days, the freight has been reduced, and the damage has been reduced. Coupled with preferential policies on customs clearance, taxation, inspection and quarantine, South American fresh fruits can be put on Chinese shelves faster.
“It’s not enough to have good fruits from overseas orchards.” said Guo Min, deputy marketing director of Golden Wing Mau China. Chinese consumers choose fruits based on quality and health, and they also hope to eat them as soon as they pick them up.
Not far away is the Canadian exhibition area. At the Prince Edward Island booth, crimson lobsters were spread out against the ice, their shells glowing with oil. Mike Pilato, president and CEO of Jiansheng, said that the high-concentration fish oil capsules brought this time are smaller and easier to swallow, and are customized based on feedback from Chinese consumers.
On November 7, lobsters at the Prince Edward Island booth in the Canadian exhibition area. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhao Qiang
Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food of Canada, believes that the CIIE is one of the most important trade exhibitions in the world and a window to showcase Canada’s supply capabilities of agricultural and food products. That trust is crucial, he said.
In the exhibition hall next door, the Shanghaojia booth was crowded with people trying food. This Filipino-Chinese business enterprise entered China in 1993 and was a "full-time student" at the ninth CIIE; its booth area expanded from 36 square meters in the first session to 200 square meters in this session.
"The expansion of the area is the epitome of Shanghaojia's 'rooting, growing and harvesting' in the Chinese market." Li Peiming, executive vice president of Shanghaojia (China) Co., Ltd., said that nine years of full attendance is a long-term optimism for the Chinese market. As a Chinese business enterprise, Shanghaojia relies on its overseas supply chain to "bring in" the world's best raw materials and "go out" of China's good technologies.
In the consumer goods exhibition area, Sinar Mas Group APPAPP, founded by Indonesian Chinese, has also attended the appointment for nine consecutive years. On the booth were lunch boxes and paper cups made of food-grade paper-based packaging materials, focusing on "replacing plastic with paper".
Zhai Jingli, vice president of Sinar Mas Group APP, said that participating in the exhibition for nine consecutive years stems from long-term confidence in the Chinese market and open development. She said that the CIIE is both an exhibition stand and a reception room. (over)
