Cherries and apples fuel demand for U.S. food in China

Cherries: In 2013, Tmall.com partnered with U.S. Northwest Cherry Growers to sell 180 tons of cherries to Chinese consumers. Sales increased to 600 tons in 2014. Because of improved logistics, American cherries can be delivered to Alibaba customers as little as 48 to 72 hours after they’re harvested. They’re shipped via plane to Beijing and Shanghai.

Apples from Washington State: The Washington Apple Commission is a relatively new seller on Tmall Global. (Not long ago, imported apples were banned by Chinese regulators who feared they would bring outside insects into the country.) In the spring of 2014, the commission held a promotion on Tmall Global to sell boxes of apples grown in rural Washington. The sale sold 5,000 cartons of apples, or sales of $100,000. This year, Chinese consumers bought 7,500 cartons of apples, worth around $150,000 from Singles Day promotions. But shoppers got a surprise: On this year’s Singles Day, all apples sold from Washington State included a QR code, which allows purchasers to scan them with their mobile phone to verify the authenticity of the fruit.