By Lu Xinyan

On September 10, 150 kilograms of premium "Shine Muscat" grapes cleared inspections by Cixi Customs and were loaded onto an international cargo flight bound for Belgium. It marks the first time fresh grapes from Zhejiang Province have entered the European Union market, paving the way for more agricultural exports from Ningbo to Europe.

Cixi, a county-level city in Ningbo, benefits from distinctive coastal saline-alkali soil that gives the grapes a balanced sugar-to-acid ratio, thick flesh and standout flavor. This batch was grown by the Cixi Kandun Guoqing Fruit and Vegetable Farm.

Orders have been pouring in since the farm first sold overseas in 2024, said Wu Kaibo, the farm manager. Over the past two years, export sales have topped 2 million yuan, starting with Singapore and expanding to other Southeast Asian markets. The shipment to Belgium marks another milestone for Ningbo grapes on the global stage.

To facilitate the export, Cixi Customs walked the farm through EU quarantine requirements and pesticide residue limits, conducting advance risk monitoring for chlorpyrifos and other substances to ensure compliance.

Given how quickly grapes spoil in transit, Customs also provided expedited clearance for fresh and perishable goods, prioritizing inspections to minimize clearance time and ensure the fruit arrived in Europe at peak flavor.

"The support from Customs has not only ensured our grapes arrive overseas at peak freshness, but also given buyers confidence in our supply stability, laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation," said Wu, adding that he plans to bring Ningbo's grapes to even more markets worldwide.