Visit to Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market in Guangzhou, China

I had attended a couple of meetings held in Guangzhou, China.
In the July 2010 meeting, delegates from various countries had the opportunity of visiting the Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market.

 

This market in Guangzhou is the largest wholesale market in China in terms of total sales and volume of imported fruit transactions. It is estimated that 60 - 70 percent of China's imported fruits are transacted through this market. It is also the largest distribution center of fruits and vegetables in China. Some 5,000 tonnes of produce passed through this market each day. More than 1,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables are imported and exported every day in this market. About 50 percent of these imports are consumed in Guangdong Province alone.

Our visit there was focused on the Fruit Trade Area of the market, which is about 160,000 sq. meters and housing 510 wholesale stores in the fruit business. There are a variety of local and imported fruit species, such as longans, orange, Pacific rose apple, grapes, kiwifruits, coconuts, mango, papaya, cantaloup, pineapples, etc. We were informed that the major imported fruits are kiwifruit from New Zealand, red grapes from South America, and durians from Thailand. Many local fruits are also exported through this market. The major export markets include North and South Americas, Western and Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa and other regions around the world.

With Syrian Delegate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Life Stands Here On Earth

I have received emails of good advice a couple of times.
This particular one below is interesting and very relevant.
So I decided to post it on my blog to share with my readers.
Not that I have plenty to leave behind but it is a good reminder to myself.
Not too sure who the author is but it seems to be of Chinese origin.

 

Because none of us have many years to live, and we can't take along anything when we go, so we don't have to be too thrifty...

Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don't leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don't want them to become parasites who are waiting for the day you will die!!

Don't worry about what will happen after we are gone, because when we return to dust, we will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

The time to enjoy the worldly life and your hard earned wealth will be over!

Don't worry too much about your children, for children will have their own destiny and should find their own way.

Don't be your children's slave.

Care for them, love them, give them gifts but also enjoy your money while you can.

Life should have more to it than working from the cradle to the grave!!

Don't expect too much from your children.

Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render much help.

(CYCLE/HARSH REALITY OF LIFE; THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE!)

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties and wealth.

(THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY RICH FAMILIES!)

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but that you have no claims to their money. (ONE SIDED!)
 
50-year old like you, don't trade in your health for wealth by working yourself to an early grave anymore...

Because your money may not be able to buy your health...
When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?

Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can consume only three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.

So, as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough.

You should live happily.

Every family has its own problems. 

Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc., but challenge others for happiness, health, enjoyment, quality of life and longevity...

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may spoil your health.
You have to create your own well-being and find your own place of happiness.

As long as you are in good mood and good health, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day. 

One day passes without happiness, you will lose one day. 

One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

In good spirit, sickness will cure;

In a happy spirit, sickness will cure faster;

In high and happy spirits; sickness will never come.
With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life of pleasure.

Above all, learn to cherish the goodness around... and FRIENDS...

They all make you feel young and "wanted"... without them you are surely to feel lost!!
Wishing you all the best.

Visit to Mango Plantation in Cirebon, West Java

The Mangga Gedong Gincu - Trademark of Cirebon Regency, West Java, Indonesia

The mango fruit is a one of my favourite tropical fruits. It is widely grown in many Asian countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, during the last 5 years, the annual global production is estimated at 35.3 million metric tonnes. India is the largest producer, with an annual output of 14.12 million metric tonnes, constituting about 40% of total global production. It is followed by China with an average annual production of 4.14 million metric tonnes, and Thailand producing an annual average of 2.6 million metric tonnes. However, only about 3.4% of the production is exported, with the rest being consumed within the producing countries. The major mango exporting countries are Mexico, India, Thailand and Indonesia, while the major importing countries are United States of America, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom.

According to my research (http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/mango-fruit.html) the mango fruit has the following health benefits:

• Mango fruit is rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidant compounds.
• Mango fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. 100 g of fresh fruit provides 765 mg or 25% of recommended daily levels of vitamin A. Together; these compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotenes is known to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Fresh mango is a good source of potassium. 100 g fruit provides 156 mg of potassium while just 2 mg of sodium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
• It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin-C and vitamin-E. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. Vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine is required for GABA hormone production within the brain. It also controls homocystiene levels within the blood, which may otherwise be harmful to blood vessels resulting in CAD and stroke.
• Further, it composes moderate amounts of copper. Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells.
• Additionally, mango peel is also rich in phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants like carotenoids and polyphenols.

In 2011, I had the opportunity of making an official visit to a large mango plantation in Cirebon, Indonesia. Cirebon city is located in West Java. It is about 130 km from Bandung and 258 km from Jakarta. Indonesia is the fourth largest mango producer in the world, with an annual production of 1.92 million metric tonnes.

The plantation I visited has a number of mango varieties, including the Harum Manis, Cho Kan Nan and Indonesia’s famous Mangga Gedong Gincu (or Mango Lipstick). The Gedong Lipstick Mango is one of the mango cultivars that commands the highest fruit prices compared to other mangoes in Indonesia. The fruit shape is somewhat round, medium size; fruit skin colour is bright yellow to purplish. Its fruit flesh colour is red to bright yellow with a sweet taste and has a sweet fragrance. According to the plantation management, this particular Mangga Gedong Gincu is the trademark of Cirebon Regency, Indramayu and Majalengka in West Java. This variety could be a competitor for the mango producers in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Israel, Mexico and other countries.
The fruits are harvested, cleaned and packed within the plantation and transported to markets in Bandung, Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia. The packaging is very simple and cost effective as it is mainly targeted at the local markets in Indonesia. Better cardboard carton packaging is used mainly for the export markets and for the supermarkets.

The plantation adopts Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)

View of the Plantation - very well maintained

Flowering tree

Hanging fruits

Bright Red to Yellow Juicy Flesh

Simple Packing House

Packing Mangoes in Wooden Boxes

  

Ready for Transporting to Markets in Indonesia

Cardboard Carton Packaging for Export Markets & Supermarkets

 

 

Vientiane Organic Products Market - Revisited

This morning I revisited the Vientiane Organic Products Market. I had posted on my first visit to this market and an organic farm when I was working in Vientiane, Laos in December 2012. In many developing countries, organic farming had not been very sustainable as it involves more risks compared to conventional farming. The major risks are related to pests and diseases management in compliance to organic certification requirements. Coupled with consumers unwillingness to pay premium prices for organic products, we do see many organic farming efforts being abandoned. In many cases, organic farmers are also constrained by a lack of market access for their produce. 

I arrived at about 8.00 am and the market was very active. Being alone there this time, I spent more time wondering around the market. There are many types of fresh organic vegetables and other products on sale. There are also many customers. I decided to buy some and found their prices are very reasonable for organic products.

With the continuous support by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in promoting organic farming in Laos, this organic market is still very active and doing well, with ample supply from the farmers practicing organic farming. This is an important initiative in strengthening the organic farming value chain in linking producers to the market and consumers. 

Green chillies

Baby brinjal (egg-plants)

Stalls of fresh organic produce

My support: I bought some of the organic products

Organic Mandarin Rice

Organic Black Rice

Ready mixed varieties of beans

Organic Red Beans

Organic Bananas

Honey from Nature Forest

Organic lettuce for my sandwich

Nice mangoes: very sweet

Turnips

Well organised market

Beautiful and Fresh

Lunch in Vientiane, Laos

I arrived in Vientiane, Laos on the morning of 17 March 2013 (Sunday). This is my 7th visit to Laos in 5 years. I started working in Laos in 2009 when I made 3 working visits, followed by 3 more visits in 2012. This is my first visit this year. I have always enjoyed working and visiting Laos. It is a pretty nice country to live in, with its friendly people. There is no "rush", although lately with its fast paced development there are more traffic in the city of Vientiane. I particularly have no problem with the food in Laos. There are a wide variety of local Lao food which I enjoyed, although at times it is a challenge to try some of the food that my Lao colleagues are always very keen for me savour whenever we go visiting the provinces. Each province have their own specialties. And I am always keen to try. 

In Vientiane, apart from the local Lao food, there are a mixture of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and western food. When I arrived on Sunday, I decided to go for my favourite Vietnamese fried spring rolls. As it was still quite early and I was not very hungry after having eaten in the airplane, I decided to have a take-away lunch set to eat in the hotel. It comes with 4 spring rolls and a generous serving of fresh salad. Instead of spring rolls, you can have BBQ sausages, which is also my favourite choice. My lunch set cost 18,000 Lao KIPs (USD2.20). 

Lunch set for one person

Fried spring rolls with fresh rice noodles

Fresh salad of lettuce, celery, basil and mint

Raw bean sprout, cili and slices of cucumber, gourd and garlic

Grounded peanuts and cili paste

Sweet sour honey sauce dip for the spring rolls