STUDY ON THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF STRAWBERRY IN BEIJING

The area for fresh strawberry production in Beijing is estimated at 700 ha in 2011, a 20% increase compared to 2010. However, strawberries in Beijing’s market are mostly from adjacent urban areas in Hebei, Anhui and Sichuan Provinces. Strawberries are available on Beijing’s market from November to May, with the highest prices from November to January. Beijing’s consumers have been increasing their consumption of fresh fruit as personal incomes have continued rising over the last several years. Japanese cultivars such as ‘Benihoppe’ and ‘Akihime’ dominate the fresh consumption market. Beijing consumers prefer the succulent aroma and sweet taste of these cultivars. However, Japanese cultivars are lower in both yield and disease resistance capacity than American and European cultivars. By study the strawberry consumption character in Beijing, we created the consumption model of strawberry in this city.