Chinese Immersion for chestnuts European professionals

A delegation of 20 French producers and processors (National Union of Chestnut Producers), Portugese (REFCAST) and Spanish (Galician organizations and Extremadura) participated in a mission from 8 days to discover production techniques and processing this fruit in several Chinese provinces (Hubei, Yunnan). 

 

The objective of the mission was to better understand the Chinese market with domestic production has been multiplied by 4 in 20 years up to 2.2 million tons today, nearly 90% of world production. Over the same period, European production, including Turkey, has increased from 200 000 tons to 169 000 tons. 

 

This immersion in the Chinese countryside enabled participants to better understand the country's reality. The chestnut were chosen to avoid soil erosion after severe flooding. Over 1.3 million hectares are planted between 1997 and 2007, reaching a total of 1.86 million hectares today. Production increased from 500 000 tons in 1997 to 2.278 million tons. Chinese companies have created a large number of new products (peeled chestnuts, grilled, various preparations, drink) to meet the huge domestic market (1.4 billion). 

 

Through constructive exchanges between Chinese farmers, researchers and the ones in the industry and thanks to a shared curiosity, the European participants will inspire from the Asian know-how and innovations to give a new boost to the European branch. In addition the Chinese are very open and asking for new trades and collaborations. 

 

The debate among European actors has just begun and will continue during the next European Chestnut meeting to be held in Ales on the 8th and 9th of September. (www.chestnut-meetings.org). 

 

A delegation of French, Spanish and Portugese chestnut producers and processors, has just completed a professional mission to China. The mission was organized by the chestnut section AREFLH and INTERCO Aquitaine. 

 

 

source : areflh org