Export of goji berries up 13.5 pct in first eight months in Qinghai

Northwest China's Qinghai province saw exports of goji berries worth 15.65 million yuan (2.21 million US dollars) in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 13.5 percent year on year, local authorities said Friday.

According to the Xining customs, the total exports of goji berries have increased from 18.2 tonnes in 2009 to 400.8 tonnes in 2018, making the goji berries the agricultural product with the biggest export volume in the province.

"The current supply of organic goji berries can barely meet the market's demand despite a rebound in price this year," said Tsering Tendru with the provincial bureau of forestry and grassland.

An area of 11,700 hectares of organic goji berries was planted in the province by the end of last year, he said, adding that Qinghai has become the largest goji berries planation area in the country.

"Last year, our products were exported to 18 countries and regions including France, Canada, Britain and Japan, with 4.69 million dollars earned," he said.

In recent years, the local government has taken a series of measures to improve the berry's quality and released a development plan for the goji berries industry.