Pineapple Cherimoya, a premium fruit variety native to Taiwan, had traditionally been exported to China. However, in September this year, China unilaterally suspended imports of Taiwanese cherimoya due to the detection of scale insects.
This import ban left a significant surplus of pineapple cherimoya with no market. Golden House Co., which previously focused on exporting pineapple and giant cherimoya, anticipated a potential ban on pineapple cherimoya later in the year. Therefore, the company invested resources and collaborated with ISO22000 and HACCP-certified food manufacturers to develop fresh-cut frozen pineapple cherimoya products. Utilizing IQF and related technologies, they overcame the issue of blackening on the surface of fresh-cut cherimoya. The resulting IQF-frozen pineapple cherimoya slices have a smooth texture and sweet flavor, and have already attracted interest from Japanese trading partners.
Golden House Co. plans to export its first shipment of frozen pineapple cherimoya slices to Japan in late December, with sales expected to commence in January at prominent retail locations in Tokyo and well-known supermarkets in Kansai. This will offer Japanese consumers the opportunity to taste these frozen cherimoya slices, hailed as one of the world's top three delicious fruits.
The company hopes to use Japan as a starting point and gradually expand into markets in Canada, the Western U.S., Singapore, and other regions, aiming to overcome quarantine barriers and establish a global presence.
The biggest challenge in promoting frozen pineapple cherimoya abroad has been the unfamiliarity of the product among international consumers. Japanese distribution partners have indicated that considerable effort is required to introduce and popularize the product, as it needs sustained promotion to make Japanese consumers appreciate the flavor of Taiwanese cherimoya. Expanding into new markets is a long-term endeavor, and Golden House Co. plans to continue investing in research and development to create products suited to local consumer markets and help Taiwanese cherimoya reach the world.
