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Posted on 01/22/2008 8:45:45 PM PST by bruinbirdman
The price of apple juice in British supermarkets is set to rise this year due to bad weather in China, in another sign the country's growing influence is affecting the world in unexpected ways.
China sells as many apples as the rest of the world put together.
But a late frost last year and cold, wet weather has reduced the crop by 10 per cent and helped to increase the price of international supplies of apple juice concentrate, for which much of the fruit is destined.
The other main reason is a late frost in Poland, another large supplier.
"Raw material prices have more than doubled as apple processors compete with the fresh market for supply of apples," said a spokesman at the British Soft Drinks Association.
"It is likely that, globally, supermarkets will charge more for apple juice to compensate for the raw material price increases."
Apple juice has become more popular, particularly in recent years as the price of orange juice has risen due to demand.
The apple growing industry has taken off in China with characteristic entrepreneurial zeal.
"I was approached by businessmen from Guangdong," said Wang Jichang, 55, a farmer from north of Xi'an in Shaanxi province, one of the country's two main apple growing regions.
Mr Wang was told if he ripped out the local Guoguang apple trees and replaced them with the Fuji variety, the businessmen would return and buy up all the fruit he produced.
Mr Wang said he had no regrets in swapping his patriotic trees for the Fuji, a hybrid developed in Japan, favoured by supermarkets and manufacturers.
He has now earned enough to pay for all three of his children to complete high school and go to college.
The apple growing industry in the United States has suffered most from the competition, although shoppers in Britain have benefited from lower costs until now.
Prices were so low Americans accused the Chinese of "dumping" apple juice on the world market at less than the cost of production.
That was before the frost last year interrupted a continuous rise in output.
"Our estimate of the 2007 apple crop is about 25 million tons, 10 per cent lower than the previous year," said Sha Lixun, the deputy secretary of the China Fruit Marketing Association.
"In 2005, export price of apple juice concentrate at Chinese customs was only $500-$600 (£256-£307) per ton. Now it's $1,500 per ton."
He also blamed poor management within the industry for the price rise, while there is also rising demand in affluent parts of China.
The effect on shoppers has yet to be seen as the price rises feed through gradually. But it is clear that Britain's own orchards, which last year produced a bumper harvest, now make only a small difference to prices domestically.
A spokesman for Tesco confirmed its purchase price was starting to increase. "We do not have information yet on how that will affect the shop price," she said.
” a late frost last year and cold, wet weather has reduced the crop by 10 per cent “
Now WHERE’D I put that Global Warming? I could swear it was around here someplace........
I can’t discern, are we Dooomed(tm), or can I go sleep soundly ?
Probably shouldn't be eating Chinese apple products anyway.
I didn’t hear this in the debates. They are avoiding the issues.
I think globalism, as it relates to trade, is a given with all of the (major) candidates. No one is going to screw with trade with China - they are helping FedGov pay its bills!
Actually let me add the obvious - Chinese money must have totally infiltrated our political system now, given how blatant they were in 1996 and how quickly the Hsu bundler incident vanished from the radar.
Probably shouldn’t be eating Chinese apple products anyway.
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As seen recently, the Chinese seem to have no problem using leaded paint, kerosene etc when the need arises.
They will also solve this problem.
Think POLICE SHOWS where a detective drinks the bottle of “apple juice” in the community fridge, only to find out the owner has a Dr’s appt later that day........
OF COURSE THIS WAS BEFORE RANDOM DRUG TESTING...
The ChiComs are ripening Fuji Apples with Alar?
yitbos
yitbos
FMCDH(BITS)
Bu hao!
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