Dragon fruit sales slump this year, the once high-end fruit loses its luster

Recently, prices of both white-fleshed and red-fleshed dragon fruit on the market have declined. Monitoring data shows that the average price at dragon fruit production areas and wholesale markets nationwide has recently fluctuated around 4 yuan/jin. For red-skinned white-fleshed dragon fruit from production areas such as Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan, depending on size, grade and variety, quotes are mainly concentrated between 2 yuan and 4 yuan/jin, while red-skinned red-fleshed dragon fruit is slightly more expensive, with quotes between 3 yuan and 8 yuan/jin depending on grade and appearance.
 

Red-fleshed dragon fruit is gradually replacing white-fleshed dragon fruit

Dragon fruit prices are falling, and the low price of white-fleshed dragon fruit in particular has dragged down the overall dragon fruit market. Since the 1990s, white-fleshed dragon fruit has been the mainstream variety on the market, but in recent years, with the development of the industry, white-fleshed dragon fruit is gradually being replaced by red-fleshed dragon fruit, because red-fleshed dragon fruit has bright color, higher nutritional content, better taste, is more popular with consumers, and enjoys higher market acceptance.

In earlier years, domestic production of red-fleshed dragon fruit in China was limited by planting technology, management techniques and varieties, so output was limited. Apart from some grown in South China, most red-fleshed dragon fruit on the market was imported from some Southeast Asian countries. Due to the distant production areas and high transport costs, prices were generally higher than for other fruits. In recent years, with the spread of improved varieties and the improvement of planting techniques, especially the solution of the self-pollination problem in red-fleshed dragon fruit, the planting area of red-fleshed dragon fruit has continued to expand, and prices have dropped to a range acceptable to ordinary consumers.

According to some fruit growers, nowadays basically few people want to grow white-fleshed dragon fruit. The management techniques are similar to those for red-fleshed fruit, but the price is at least 1 to 2 yuan/jin lower. It can be said that whether in terms of market demand or the choice of the production side, white-fleshed dragon fruit is gradually being replaced by red-fleshed dragon fruit.

So in the face of cold market conditions and falling sales prices, how can farmers achieve better returns from dragon fruit cultivation?

First, in recent years China's dragon fruit industry has developed rapidly, with the planting area continuously expanding. Among them, the planting areas in Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou all exceed 100,000 mu. Because growing dragon fruit is simple, quick to yield results and profitable, other provinces further north such as Zhejiang, Henan and Shaanxi are also using new planting techniques to grow it. This year, affected by expanded planting, domestic dragon fruit output is relatively large, while market purchases are limited, so prices have fallen. Therefore, farmers should not blindly expand planting. They should fully understand market demand, choose excellent varieties, strengthen field management and plant efficiently.

Second, at present the dragon fruit marketing period is relatively concentrated, overall output is relatively high, and the downstream market is also seeing the arrival of seasonal fruits such as citrus, pomegranate and pear. Market purchasing power is limited, and it is difficult to absorb so much supply in a short time. To win the sales battle, farmers should grasp the timing of fruit arrivals and dynamic changes in market demand, plant scientifically, and use management techniques to make dragon fruit ripen earlier or later, avoiding the peak and going to market in off-peak periods.

Finally, dragon fruit prices are generally declining, but depending on variety, grade and appearance, the price of better-quality dragon fruit is still relatively high. In particular, some famous and excellent varieties with good fruit shape and taste are usually sold as high-end fruit at prices far higher than ordinary dragon fruit. At present, however, the domestic dragon fruit market has chaotic varieties, with many passing off inferior goods as superior. This requires farmers, when buying seedlings, to carefully compare and select, introduce excellent varieties, and at the same time improve planting management and disaster prevention and resilience capabilities to produce more high-quality premium fruit.