China's Shandong apple growers face challenges as heavy rains impact crop quality and prices

China’s Shandong apple growers are in the middle of the season, but the harvest has taken a sour turn. Heavy, prolonged rain has led to poor-quality apples, reduced yields, and lower market prices.

The province, one of China’s largest apple-growing regions, saw over four inches of rain in early October, nearly nine times the long-term average and the highest level recorded during the same period since 1951, the Shandong Climate Center reports.

Adverse weather effects on apple prices

The continuous rainfall reduced output by approximately 20 percent and made it difficult for Shandong apples to color evenly.

Yao Changfeng, General Manager for the Shandong-based fruit and vegetable supplier Onedayone Group, explained that increased moisture content has led to some apples cracking and making them less suitable for long-term storage. This, she says, can potentially affect marketing performance.

“Currently, prices for good-quality apples are higher than last year, but more apples have fallen into the lower-grade category this year, so a large portion is being sold at low-grade prices,” Changfeng adds.

With fewer high-quality apples coming from the orchards, the executive says buyers can expect prices for premium pomme apples to rise.

The executive said all apple varieties felt the effects of the rain equally, but the impact is not the same across the board. For example, Fuji and blushed apples are more prone to water cracks, she said, while striped apples are more affected by uneven coloration.

Onedayone Group exports most of its apples to the Middle East, including Dubai. The company also sells to key retail partners in the Middle East, such as Carrefour, Lulu, Spinneys, and Nesto.

The future of Shandong apples

Shandong apple growers are already planning tree recovery by using targeted fertilization to help ensure high-quality fruit next season.

“The local agricultural office has suggested applying organic fertilizers to help prevent future diseases,” Changfeng noted. “Things should return to normal after recovery. The key factors affecting next year’s yield and quality will be next year’s weather conditions.”

*All images courtesy of Onedayone Group

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