In recent years, China’s imports of South African apples and pears [3] have continued to grow steadily. According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, as of June this year, the total import volume was approaching 10,000 metric tons. Currently, during the peak summer sales season, South African apples and pears are becoming increasingly visible in supermarkets and fruit stores across the country.

A representative from Guangzhou Jiafeng Agricultural Products Trading Co. Ltd. (广州市佳沣农产品贸易有限责任公司) stated that the company began receiving shipments of South African apples and pears in batches from late April. Retail prices for the products have remained largely stable compared with last year, and the sales season is expected to continue through November. With consumer demand rising year by year, the company plans to further expand its import volume in the future.

To enhance consumer awareness and drive sales of South African apples and pears, Jiafeng organized promotional events at 40 key Uncle Fruit stores in Guangzhou and Foshan. The events featured apple and pear mascots, interactive displays and a range of promotional materials, inviting consumers to sample the fruits and learn fun facts about them.

Jiafeng primarily imports Fuji apples and Forelle pears from South Africa — two of the main fruit varieties that South Africa exports to China. Fuji apples are known for their firm, crisp texture, balanced sweet-tart flavor and rich aroma. Their smaller size makes them especially popular among families. Forelle pears, with their attractive appearance, high edible yield and nearly seedless core, tend to appeal more to younger consumers.

Following a two-week promotional campaign, Jiafeng reported strong consumer satisfaction with the quality of this year’s South African apples and pears, noting a high level of interest in trying the fruit. Fuji apples saw steady repeat purchases and sales growth, with their compact size cited as a key advantage. Meanwhile, Forelle pears attracted attention with their striking appearance, and feedback on their taste was more positive than in previous years — many consumers described them as refreshingly sweet and juicy.

Drawing on years of market experience, Jiafeng has offered suggestions to help retailers boost their sales of South African Forelle pears. As Forelle pears differ significantly from domestic varieties in both appearance and taste, it is recommended that they be prominently displayed in stores — either grouped together or packaged in transparent containers — to emphasize their visual appeal. Retailers are also encouraged to actively educate consumers about how the flavor evolves at different stages of ripeness, using clear promotional materials to illustrate these changes. This is intended to help consumers select their preferred ripeness level for the best eating experience.

Images: Guangzhou Jiafeng Agricultural Products Trading Co. Ltd.

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article [4].