1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 397 Maybe we should go back to Zengcheng?
Yoshikawa Sei was somewhat agitated.

To protect related industries, Japan imposes surprisingly high seasonal tariffs on certain agricultural products.

Broccoli is one of them.

If the landed price of imported broccoli is 150 yen per kilogram, and seasonal import duties are payable, it is normal for the cost to double after taxes.

Saito Yo said that this batch of broccoli could avoid the high seasonal tariffs and only need to pay the normal tariffs, which would save at least 50% of the cost!
Furthermore, it avoids seasonal tariffs, which also means it doesn't have to face competition from domestic products.

You can make a considerable profit by buying these broccoli.

Saito Yo shook his head. "Buying all two hundred tons might be a bit difficult."

Yoshikawa asked, puzzled, "Why? We can easily take on two hundred tons of goods without any difficulty."

Taihang Co., Ltd. imports two to three hundred tons of shiitake mushrooms from China at a time, and two hundred tons of broccoli is far from enough in Yoshikawa Masaru's eyes.

Saito Yo said, "Seiko Co., Ltd. is also eyeing this batch of broccoli. They also have cooperation with Chinese companies, and it cannot be ruled out that they have contacted other buyers as well. It will be difficult for us to take it all."

Yoshikawa was somewhat astonished. Just over two hundred tons of broccoli, and so many people were eyeing it?

Japan imports 8 to 9 tons of broccoli every year!

“Saito-kun, perhaps we can explore more collaborations with this Chinese company.”

“That’s what I think too,” Saito Yo said thoughtfully. “I’ll bring this up with the president at the next meeting.”

Yoshikawa Masaru said, "Besides fresh vegetables, we can also cooperate with them to freeze broccoli, and the domestic demand for this is also increasing."

Saito Yo: "We can give it a try, but it also depends on whether the other party is willing to import the equipment. In this regard, the Chinese always hope that we will provide financial support."

Frozen broccoli is a processing method developed to meet the year-round supply of broccoli. For catering companies, frozen broccoli can provide a stable source of ingredients and is also more convenient and faster.

However, processing broccoli into frozen products requires equipment and technology, which is a weakness for Chinese growers.

Yoshikawa Masaru shook his head. "We can't possibly fund their development."

“That’s the problem,” Saito Yo said. “Alright, we can discuss that at the meeting. Right now, I need to resolve the order issue first.”

Yoshikawa Masaru reminded him, "Both leafy greens and broccoli are needed, the more broccoli the better, and we can raise the price if necessary."

"it is good!"

Saito Yo also knew that without the high seasonal import tariffs, the profit margin for broccoli was still very large.

...

Tokyo, Ota Market.

Naohito Murata also received a broccoli sample, which he opened and inspected under the watchful eye of President En Higashiyama.

As soon as the styrofoam box was opened, rows of neatly arranged broccoli florets came into view, their color a rich, vibrant green, with tightly packed buds forming round, plump flower balls.

"Yoshi, Murata, well done, this broccoli is beautiful."

Dongshan Yan picked up a broccoli and examined it in his hand, finding nothing wrong with it.

"Place an order with the Chinese. Send back a container of broccoli first, at the price quoted by the Chinese."

"Yes, ma'am!" Naohito Murata bowed respectfully and said, "President, the vegetables imported from Shanghai have arrived at the port. I think we can prepare to pay the balance now."

Dongshan Yan waved his hand, "There's no rush. Let's see how it goes in the market first. The most important thing right now is to get them to send the broccoli over."

Naoto Murata said, "President, Taihang Co., Ltd. in Fukuoka City has also been in contact with them and should have received broccoli samples by now."

"You idiot, why didn't you say so sooner!"

Naohito Murata then explained the whole story in detail, which made En Higashiyama shout "Baka!" repeatedly, and he was so angry that he almost slapped Murata twice.

They also know that import tariffs on broccoli are now lower, resulting in larger profit margins.

Each additional container of imported goods could potentially generate tens of thousands of dollars in additional profit.

However, compared to Taihang Co., Ltd., it has an advantage in the business of fresh fruits and vegetables, but Taihang is larger in scale and can easily process hundreds of tons of broccoli.

"Go check the goods right now. If there are no problems, pay as soon as possible. Order early and buy more broccoli!"

"Hai!"

Naohito Murata soon saw the imported vegetables from Shanghai; the bok choy, Shanghai bok choy, and romaine lettuce were all still very fresh.

There is absolutely no problem with such goods entering the market for sale.

He reported to Dongshan Yan again, then settled the final payment and sent a new procurement request to the Chinese side.

...

When they received feedback from the Japanese market, Chen Jiazhi and Xue Jun were driving on rural roads in Shenzhen.

Chen Jiazhi held his mobile phone and answered a call from Xu Yao. The two containers of vegetables exported to Japan had received their final payments.

"Judging from this, both Japanese companies have a strong desire for broccoli!"

Xu Yao said, "I don't know the specifics. You'll probably have to call Tan Wangji when you have time. Broccoli in Shanghai is scheduled to start harvesting on May 1st."

"Okay, there's still time." Chen Jiazhi then asked, "What's the feedback from Indonesia and Thailand? The goods should have arrived at the port by now, right?"

Xu Yao: "Yes, the other party is quite satisfied and intends to place another order. However, the market just received two containers of orders from Malaysia and Singapore. Manager Yi said that there is no capacity to accept any other foreign trade orders within a week."

"Okay, I understand." Chen Jiazhi had a general idea of ​​how many vegetables were available at the market, and the pressure to produce them was indeed significant.

A vegetable market that covers 900 acres can produce 20 to 30 tons of vegetables a day, which is already quite remarkable. Some large vegetable markets that cover 2,000 acres may only produce that many tons.

Moreover, Jiangxin Vegetable Market harvested nearly 70 tons in one day for export orders last time, and it had just recovered when it received orders from Malaysia and Singapore. It would be too late to take on orders from Thailand and Indonesia.

Chen Jiazhi sighed, "Foreign trade is doing well now, so we need to finalize the new base as soon as possible."

Xue Jun, who was driving, said, "I've been in Shenzhen for several days now, but there's nothing suitable. All the good places and locations have been taken."

Shenzhen's agricultural resources are not as good as Guangzhou's; there is less land suitable for growing vegetables.

Moreover, these areas have long been occupied by various large vegetable markets, small vegetable farmers, and third parties. Those willing to transfer their properties are not only expensive but also have various defects.

Chen Jiazhi is a man of quality over quantity, and the selection of the base site is a crucial part of running a vegetable market.

If you choose the wrong location, you will not only lose money, but also waste several years of your life.

Xue Jun then said, "How about we go to Dongguan or Huizhou to take a look?"

Chen Jiazhi: "It would be better to do it in Zengcheng. There is a lot of land suitable for growing vegetables in the plains in the south of Zengcheng. It's just that it is prone to flooding in the summer. When it floods, the Jiangxin vegetable market will also be flooded. It will all be ruined in a heavy rain. Dongguan and Huizhou are not much different."

Xue Jun muttered, "Then we'll have to build the market in the mountains."

Chen Jiazhi pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, I really have this idea. I'm thinking of going to Conghua to look again. You know Dongsheng Farm next to the vegetable market, right?"

“Yeah~” Xue Jun said, “I heard that Dongsheng is learning everything from us now. In addition to building its own cold storage, they also buy foam boxes from us. Now the foam box factory is starting to have income.”

Chen Jiazhi was aware of this, but he could only sell off the excess production capacity.

Xue Jun then asked, "What does Dongsheng have to do with our trip to Conghua?"

"Dongsheng has also invested in a 2000-mu vegetable market in Conghua. In addition, there is a Hong Kong-funded company that has invested in a 3000-mu vegetable market in Conghua. I want to go and see the situation. If it is suitable, I will build a market in Conghua."

When Chen Jiazhi first met Xu Wenxiang, he wrote her a letter of recommendation.

One of his suggestions was that the best way to grow good vegetables is to choose a suitable production area, and Conghua City was one of the suggestions he gave at the time.

This county-level city in the northeast of Guangzhou has a higher altitude, a milder climate, and abundant rainfall.

It certainly can't compare to production areas like Yunnan, but it experiences less frequent heavy rain and fewer typhoons than coastal delta plains, giving it an advantage in high-quality vegetable cultivation.

After listening for a while, Xue Jun stepped on the gas, "Let's go then!"

"Do you even know which way Conghua goes? You just keep stepping on the gas, I think you just want to drive around everywhere!"

"Hehe, isn't that what you're here for?"

"..."

Chen Jiazhi silently took out a map. Conghua City is adjacent to Zengcheng County, and he quickly found two routes to Conghua.

But the highway from Zengcheng County to Xiaolou Town to Paitan Town to Conghua City attracted his attention more.

"Looking at it this way, Xiaolou Town is quite close to Conghua."

"Let me see, it really is." Xue Jun was also quite surprised. "Why don't we just build a base in the northern mountainous area of ​​Zengcheng instead of having two different clients? It's all mountainous anyway, and we're more familiar with Zengcheng."

"Go and take a look first before talking."

After traveling all the way to Zengcheng and resting for a night, the two went to Xiaolou Town and picked up Guo Mancang to continue north to Paitan Town.

The mountains here are higher, the water is clearer, and many original natural landscapes have been preserved. Bamboo rafts shuttle back and forth on the river, and you can often see old people fishing.

On this stretch of road, Chen Jiazhi took over from Xue Jun and drove himself. Only by driving could he ensure he didn't miss any of the scenery along the way.

"If Li Cai were to come to a place like this, he would have to cast two fishing rods before leaving."

“Mr. Chen, the scenery in Lianzhou is much better than here. Li Cai has studied in Lianzhou, so he's not so weak that he can't walk.”

"Sigh, it's really fallen from grace. Even looking at this little bit of scenery makes me sigh. Any mountain in the southwest would be taller and more majestic."

"There's nothing I can do about it~"

After seeing the dark, viscous river and the gray, smoggy sky in Shenzhen, coming to this place surrounded by mountains and rivers truly felt like a cleansing of the soul.

It's no surprise that vegetables grown in such a place are of high quality.

After passing Paitan Town, the next stop was Conghua City. It took some effort to find out about the vegetable market.

One of them is the Yucai Market, a 3000-mu modern vegetable market solely funded by Xiangjiang Yucai Company.

It is also the largest vegetable base in Conghua, located in Shengang Town, south of the city, only 48 kilometers away from Guangzhou.

However, heading south from Conghua city, along the banks of the Liuxi River, in addition to crops such as rice and peanuts, there are also many vegetable bases.

Leafy greens and gourds and beans are roughly evenly divided, and bok choy, Chinese kale, and milk cabbage are also plentiful.

Many of these dishes are sold through the jade company's channels.

"It may seem that only 3000 mu of land is planted in the Yucai Market, but the area it can influence is far more than 3000 mu."

"Boss, why don't we go back to Zengcheng? We clearly can't beat Congyu in Conghua."

(End of this chapter)