Japan as a market of tropical fruit.
Kitagawa H., Matsui T., Kawada K., Agravante J. U.
Author Affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa 761-07, Japan.
: 41-46
Abstract : Japan imported 760 409 t bananas, 138 156 t pineapples, 5291 t mangoes, 5240 t pawpaws, 3370 t avocadoes, 2114 t coconuts, 1149 t litchis, 104 t durians, 60 t cherimoyas, 22 t pitayas, 15 t passion fruits, 15 t cactus fruits, 7.7 t granadillas, and 3.2 t maracujas in 1988. If this volume of trade is to be expanded, Japan needs to improve its plant quarantine and pest eradication procedures. The Japanese market for fruit is different in that the custom of purchasing fruit as a gift or ornament persists. Fruits should therefore be excellent in external appearance and quality with regard to size and colour. Consumers see fruit as a pleasurable luxury and fruit of high quality can command an extremely high price. Rare and exotic fruit can be sold at these high prices and tends to be sold at specialist quality stores which sell only fruit.