As a major fruit importer and exporter, China occupies an important position in the world's fruits. There are many types of fresh fruits exported to China, but there are differences in the types of fruits that are allowed to enter the Chinese market in different countries and regions. North Korea, as a neighbor of China, is allowed to export fresh fruits to China, but currently there are only two kinds of fruits, namely blue indigo and lingonberry.
Although there are only two types of fruit allowed to be imported in North Korea, this is not the only restriction. It is understood that the import volume in the past two years is not large, and the relevant data is not easy to obtain. However, it is worth noting that the exporters of blue indigo and bilberry are limited to North Korea, and there are no other competitors in the field of fruit imports.
North Korea exports blue indigo and lingonberry to China, partly because of its abundant wild resources, and partly because these two fruits can be grown on non-standard farmland. It is worth emphasizing that these fruits are mainly used for processing, not for direct consumption. North Korea's fruit industry is relatively small, mainly based on apples, pears and persimmons, and most of it is consumed domestically due to limited production.
The blue indigo fruit, affectionately known as the "mountain eggplant" in the Tohoku region, is a deciduous shrub that is extremely hardy. It is mainly distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin and other places, as well as the large and small Xing'anling areas. The fruit blooms around May and turns into small blue-purple berries between June and July. Despite its resemblance to blueberries, the two are not actually related. In the Tohoku region, it is sometimes referred to as the "long-fruited blueberry".
Blue indigo was first commercially cultivated in Russia and began to be domesticated in the fifties of the last century. Although China only began to pay attention to the study of blue indigo fruit in the 80s of the last century, as the research deepened, its rich nutrients and antioxidant effects were discovered. Although initially positioned as a fresh fruit, it was not cultivated on a large scale due to the bitterness of the early varieties. However, as the indigo fruit was studied intensively, new cultivars were developed and merchants saw an opportunity to process it into wine, jam and juice.
The processed products of blue indigo fruit are gradually selling well in the market, although the ** is not low, but it is more reasonable than the European, American and Japanese markets. Its efficacy and the components it contains, such as anthocyanins, gallic acid, catechins, and soluble tannins, have attracted much attention. Although blue indigo has not yet reached the popularity and market share of blueberries, it is expected to learn from the successful experience of blueberry industry development and is expected to enter a wider market in the future.
Although the blue indigo fruit has made some progress in the development process, there are still some growing challenges. First of all, compared to blueberries, blue indigo fruit is relatively simple in cultivation techniques, which can easily lead to flooding. Secondly, the taste of fresh fruits is relatively poor, and the storage tolerance is poor, and the labor cost of planting and production is also high. In addition, the indigo fruit processing industry chain is not perfect, and once overplanted, it may cause various negative problems.
Although blue indigo is still a niche fruit in the Chinese market, its rich nutrient content and processing potential have attracted attention. Among the North Korean fruit exports, blue indigo has attracted the attention of the Chinese market with its uniqueness. Although the current market size is small, driven by scientific research and industrial development, blue indigo fruit is expected to make greater breakthroughs in the future. For those who are interested in devoting themselves to the cultivation of blue indigo fruits, they need to choose the timing carefully and wait for better varieties and a more complete industrial chain.
Considering the unique characteristics and market potential of blue indigo fruit, it is not difficult to see that this niche fruit may usher in a broader development space in the future. Although the current market share is relatively small, it is believed that it will gradually move towards the mass market with the in-depth understanding of blue indigo fruit and the gradual popularization of processed products.
It is worth noting that blue indigo not only has potential for fresh food, but is also a versatile fruit that can be processed into a variety of products, including fruit wine, jam and juice. Its rich antioxidant content makes it competitive in the field of health food, providing more possibilities for future market development.
For agricultural practitioners who are interested in dabbling in blue indigo cultivation, it is advisable to carefully consider the current market conditions and potential planting challenges when choosing a plant. Although the cultivation technique of blue indigo fruit is relatively simple, excessive flooding may lead to market saturation and affect the sustainable development of the industry. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to issues such as the taste and storage resistance of fresh fruits to ensure the competitiveness of the product in the market.
In the diversified pattern of China's fruit market, blue indigo has gradually attracted people's attention due to its distinctive characteristics and potential health value. In the future, with the continuous investment of scientific research forces and the gradual improvement of the industrial chain, blue indigo fruit is expected to achieve larger-scale cultivation and wider market promotion. For growers, the time is not yet ripe to wait and see, and with good varieties and industry support, blue indigo will surely emerge in the Chinese fruit market and become a new bright spot.