1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 474 Recruiting; The Wind Direction

When the idea of ​​selling the farm came to mind, Qu Jingtai couldn't help but ask himself, "Is the situation really that serious?"
He admitted that he panicked at this moment, and he had never been this flustered even when he was returned the goods a few times before.

It's easy to imagine how much pressure Reliable Fresh put on him.

If everyone's goods are returned and can't be exported to Japan, he actually has nothing to worry about.

But there are exceptions. Kaopu Fresh is still exporting leafy greens to Japan, and the types of vegetables it deals in almost completely overlap with those of Au Tai Kee.

Once Qu Taiji's clients are familiar with the import business, when faced with obstacles, their first thought will definitely be to overcome them, and they will all gradually notice the existence of Kaopu Fresh.

Perhaps you've already noticed.

Au Tai Kee has already lost customers.

If this continues, the mature markets that Qu Taiji spent several years developing may end up benefiting Kaopu Fresh.

Qu Jingtai was indeed panicked.

He took out a cigarette from his bag, lit it with trembling hands, and tried his best to calm himself down and think.

Selling the farm is definitely the last resort, and we won't do it lightly. We're not in dire straits yet; the Hong Kong market can still hold on, and there's also a market in Taiwan.

His sights were set on the mainland. If only he had known... if only he had paid more attention to the mainland market sooner.

For vegetables such as bok choy and Chinese kale, the Pearl River Delta, or more specifically Guangdong, is the largest potential consumer market.

Entering the market now is not too late, but it cannot solve the immediate problem. There are nearly 5000 acres of vegetable markets in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Conghua, Panyu, etc.

In the past year or two, we have placed too much faith in the export market and expanded too hastily.

At this moment, Gao Yu, the sales manager of Qu Taiji, said, "Mr. Qu, should we... investigate how Kaopu Fresh passed the quarantine inspection in Japan?"

"What else can we do? They met the requirements."

"What if it's not?"

Qu Jingtai's eyes lit up. "You're right, that possibility can't be ruled out."

After thinking for a moment, Qu Jingtai said, "I will go to Japan personally right away to visit customers and investigate the market. Gao Yu, you keep an eye on the vegetable market."

"it is good."

Au King-tai has always attached great importance to the Japanese market. In the past two years, he has been having his son learn Japanese so that he can study in Japan in the future, become familiar with local vegetable consumption habits and business models, and prepare for taking over Au Tai Kee in the future.

But before his son even reaches college age, the clients he has already developed may leave him.

He was not reconciled.

Upon arriving in Tokyo, Qu Jingtai met with Higashino Shun, a Japanese importer with whom he had previously collaborated closely for many years in the import and export of vegetables, at a restaurant.

However, Higashino Shun also became distant and cold towards Qu Jingtai.

"Manager Qu, I'm in a difficult position too."

"Because of the provisions of the Food Sanitation Law, we importers have to spend huge sums of money to accept ordered inspections and carry out self-inspections, and due to the extended customs clearance time, the cost of vegetables being held up at the port has increased significantly."

Secondly, due to the short shelf life of vegetables and the slow import clearance caused by batch-by-batch inspections, the quality of vegetables has declined. At the same time, inspection fees have increased from 5 yen per batch to 80 yen, forcing us to gradually cancel orders to China.

Qu Jingtai understood; the other party's situation was not easy either.

He tentatively asked, "I've heard that some Chinese companies are still managing to export to Japan. How do they operate?"

"You pass the hard tests." Dongye Jun pondered, "If you can also complete all the tests on your own and pass every random inspection, you can also receive this treatment."

"Can they really meet the standards?"

"It's true. Now, almost every company that imports leafy vegetables knows that there is a Chinese company that can clear customs."

Higashino Shun shrugged. "Because this target is something that even Japanese farmers, let alone you, can't meet. This policy is specifically designed to target spinach imports, but it has a wide impact, and there's a lot of opposition domestically right now."

Qu Jingtai then asked, "Is it possible for this restriction to be lifted or adjusted?"

"This is certain, because it affects not only China's leafy vegetable exports, but also exports to Europe and the United States, although the timing is hard to say."

Higashino Shun raised his glass and said, "I can only wish you good luck."

In many ways, Japan is not a sovereign nation; its policies are volatile, and it is particularly prone to changing its mind when facing domestic competition in agricultural products.

Qu Jingtai knew there was still a chance, but he wasn't sure when things would change.

He spent another day visiting different clients and markets, and the responses he received were largely the same.

Qu Jingtai easily recognized that several of these clients were already cooperating with Kaopu Fresh.

All the other customers looked dejected, but you few looked excited and seemed quite familiar with Reliable Fresh.

It's hard not to guess.

This is precisely the troublesome part. The customer has no intention of hiding anything and may already be planning a long-term partnership with Kaopu Fresh, which means it will be very difficult for Qu Taiji to resume cooperation.

After all, Kaopu Fresh can completely replace Qu Tai Kee.

Qu Jingtai left Japan and returned to Hong Kong. He then went to Dongsheng Farm in Panyu. He estimated that if he went to Japan again next time, many things would have to go back to how they were five or six years ago, and he would have to start all over again.

What's worse is how to sell vegetables in the current situation?

Besides getting caught up in the fierce battles in the mainland market, he had no other way out. No, there was another way: sell the farm.

Who should we sell it to?

Qu Jingtai stood once again on the dividing line between Dongsheng Farm and Jiangxin Vegetable Market. The vegetable market across the street was bustling with activity, as if a battle was raging. He saw a robust woman with a round bottom running and shouting, as if urging her companions on.
There were also tricycles transporting vegetables roaring along the roads of the market.

It has to be said that this market is great, just like his ideal market, but unfortunately, it's not his market.

What bothered him even more was that Dongsheng Farm behind him was far inferior, and his attempt to learn from them had resulted in a complete mess.

Qu Jingtai's defenses were somewhat compromised.

But if it comes to the point where he has to sell, he hopes that Dongsheng Farm can be transformed into Jiangxin Vegetable Market.

The following night, Qu Taiji's vegetables continued to flood the wholesale markets in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

...

Yantai, Laiyang.

Reporter He Jiajia is very tall. After registering, she strode into the factory area with her long legs.

This is a vegetable processing plant, and one of its main businesses is quick-frozen spinach.

Office Director Liu Hongshun came out to greet him, "Hello, Reporter He, welcome. Please come into my office and have some tea."

He Jiajia greeted, "Director Liu, I'm sorry to bother you. There's no need for tea. I only have a few questions, I'll leave after I ask them."

The cameraman following behind was already filming, and Director Liu had no choice but to smile and agree; he couldn't afford to offend a reporter.

He Jiajia asked, "Director Liu, I've heard that your factory's spinach exports to Japan have been repeatedly returned due to pesticide residue issues. Is that true?"

“Uh…” Liu Hongshun’s expression changed. “The spinach we produce is generally safe in terms of quality. It’s just that the Japanese side deliberately set strict limits on pesticide residues.”

Before he could finish speaking, He Jiajia interrupted, "So that means the return of the goods also actually happened."

Liu Hongshun gave another explanation, which He Jiajia listened to, but she only asked one or two questions before taking her leave.

He Jiajia then went to several other factories, all of which were partner factories of Longda Group and would eventually be exported to Japan through Longda Group's channels.

However, in the past two weeks, spinach exports have been repeatedly returned, and He Jiajia, who noticed this, plans to write a report about it.

She didn't exaggerate; she simply wrote down what she knew.

...

Huacheng, the Jiangnan Market was once again shrouded in night. The market was bustling with noise and people coming and going. Chen Jiazhi could hear the sounds of fierce bargaining every now and then.

"Chicken heart is 18 yuan per piece."

"Would you sell it for 15?"

"We can't sell it at this price, boss."

"If we can't sell them, then so be it."

The person who asked the price would turn around and leave, but sometimes the stall owner would bring the customer back to lower the price.

After entering the market, Chen Jiazhi didn't go around in circles and went straight to stall number 63. However, he saw similar scenes no less than four or five times along the way.

It's easy to imagine how brutal the market is right now, but slot 63 is still relatively peaceful.

Since exports to Japan accounted for the majority of the shipments, the stalls faced little sales pressure and had no trouble selling their goods.

With the current poor market conditions, many leafy vegetable stalls are struggling to sell their produce. What might have been a market price of 20 yuan per piece today could end up selling for 15, 12, or even 10 yuan per piece.

However, this won't happen with stall number 63. As long as the price doesn't deviate from the market price, there will always be a group of customers who regularly purchase from it.

This is the benefit of long-term stability.

Most stalls can't even do that. The better ones might be able to maintain a consistent selection of vegetables like bok choy and Chinese kale, but the quality fluctuates wildly—good one day, bad the next, or good this month, bad the following month, resulting in high customer turnover.

Some stalls are even worse; they can't even keep the most basic bok choy in stock every day, let alone maintain a stable customer base.

In contrast, stall number 63, though quiet and with several different vendors and little conversation except for unloading goods, was a clear game-changer when it came to selling vegetables.

They were able to sell all the vegetables ahead of schedule, right at market price, in one night. Chen Jiazhi only checked the quality of a few boxes of vegetables and reviewed the customer list for the past two days. The vegetables hadn't changed, and the customers hadn't changed either—that was the best answer.

Seeing a reliable Fresh delivery van passing by, Chen Jiazhi waved and said, "Give me a ride and drop me off at the entrance of Yuexiu Market."

The delivery driver, named Li Le, smiled and said, "Boss, I just need to pick up some scallions from the stall in Yuexiu. I can take you in directly."

"Okay, I'm too lazy to walk either."

Yuexiu Market has only been relocated for two or three years, and its facilities are still very new. However, in terms of transaction volume, it has always been overshadowed by Jiangnan Market.

The daily vegetable trading volume in the Jiangnan region has stabilized at around 5000 tons, and the upward trend shows no signs of abating.

Yuexiu Market has consistently maintained a volume of 2 to 3 tons, and it also holds a stable second place in Huacheng Market.

Other markets are constantly being siphoned off by these two companies, and some have even quietly disappeared.

Because of its considerable reputation in the Jiangnan market, Kaopu Fresh was able to gain preferential treatment when it entered the Yuexiu market.

So even though we arrived late, we still managed to get a good stall location.

It's just that it's slightly inferior to Congyu.

The van passed by Congyu's stall and quickly stopped at the new stall. Chen Jiazhi noticed that Congyu's business was doing quite well, while his own stall seemed to be doing worse.

The new stall has only been operating for a short time. Although it carries the brand name of Reliable Fresh, customers who know the business prefer to get their vegetables from Jiangnan Market. Only a small number of customers who regularly visit Yuexiu Market have changed their pick-up point.

In addition to leafy greens, this stall also sells eggplant, melons, and beans, mainly sourced from Lianzhou.

Congyu's stall specializes in leafy vegetables.

"Boss~"

"How are sales today?"

"Hmm~ It's just so-so. We'll probably have to sell off a batch of vegetables at a low price in the end."

The salesman at this stall is Tang Huaijie. He was originally in the Jiangnan Market, but was recently transferred to Yuexiu. Ding Qiao, on the other hand, has already gone to Shanghai with Chen Zhengyan.

"Which dishes will be sold at a discount?" Chen Jiazhi casually walked around the stall, where the selection of dishes was more abundant.

Logically, it should attract customers who prefer leafy vegetables, as well as those who prefer eggplant, melons, and gourds, so the foot traffic should be greater than that of Congyu.

However, it is lower.

Tang Huaijie stammered, "There might be some left over today."

"Including bok choy?"

"Hmm~"

"The reason is that we have a plan every day. Selling leafy vegetables at a low price now would be a loss for us. We don't lack channels to sell leafy vegetables."

"We're only trying to ensure a steady supply of leafy vegetables so the new stalls can get off to a good start; unsold produce or sold at low prices would be a waste of company resources."

Chen Jiazhi was well aware that setting up a stall was not something that could be done overnight. Even with Kaopu Fresh, it would take time for people in the new market to get to know it.

However, the amount of goods delivered to the new stall each day is determined by sales staff such as Tang Huaijie. No leafy greens like bok choy are forced in, because Reliable Fresh has no worries about selling them.

Tang Huaijie pointed in another direction and pondered, "There's another leafy vegetable stall in the market. They've been getting a lot of stock these past two days, and the prices are a bit lower, which has affected our sales these past two days."

Chen Jiazhi followed and looked over.

Tang Huaijie added, "Tomorrow I will reduce my order of leafy greens and sell more other vegetables."

Chen Jiazhi nodded, acknowledging his explanation, and added, "If you focus on improving your products and services, business will gradually pick up."

Tang Huaijie smiled and said, "I know, he's Mr. Reliable, isn't he?"

"That's what I mean."

Chen Jiazhi walked in the direction Tang Huaijie had pointed out, where a sign read "Dongsheng Agriculture".

He also saw a somewhat familiar man, wearing a white vest and black shorts, with a dark complexion and a resolute expression. Chen Jiazhi vaguely recognized him.

Wang Xiaodong.

His boss in his previous life was a vegetable market owner in Shanghai. In his memory, he was a very capable person who handled both production and sales.

But at this moment, he is busy selling vegetables at the stall.

"This might be one of the reasons why he decided to do it himself in his past life."

Chen Jiazhi muttered to himself, "If I keep walking forward, this Dongsheng Agriculture should be Qu Taiji's stall."

Wang Xiaodong noticed him too and stepped forward to ask, "Handsome, what kind of vegetables are you buying? Bok choy, kale, mustard greens, bok choy, our vegetables are all pretty good, and the prices are cheap..."

Chen Jiazhi interrupted, "Isn't Mr. Wang in charge of the vegetable market in Conghua? Why is he selling vegetables here?"

Wang Xiaodong looked at the handsome young man in front of him with surprise. "You know me?"

Chen Jiazhi nodded slightly, then fell silent for a moment.

Wang Xiaodong didn't press further, and asked instead, "What kind of vegetables does the boss need to buy?"

The word "boss" made Chen Jiazhi feel a little dazed.

He suddenly said, "If you can't stay in Dongsheng anymore, you can come work for me."

Wang Xiaodong asked in surprise, "Who are you?"

"Reliable Fresh Produce, Chen Jiazhi".

To Wang Xiaodong's astonishment, Chen Jiazhi disappeared into the crowd once more.

Is he the boss of Kaopu Fresh?

How does he know me?
Did he come specifically to invite me?
One question after another kept popping up, and Wang Xiaodong was starting to feel a bit flustered. While selling vegetables, he was also thinking about whether or not to go with Reliable Fresh.

From his colleagues' eyes, he knew that this matter couldn't be kept secret and would definitely be reported to Qu Jingtai.

Moreover, he himself didn't want to do it anymore.

...

Chen Jiazhi went to Congyu's stall again and saw that the vegetable prices were not high, as if they were scrambling to sell their produce. Dongsheng was the same.

"It seems that if the new stall wants to make a difference, it will have to accumulate step by step, but it is still much better than starting from scratch."

The following evening, Chen Jiazhi went to the stall in Buji, Shenzhen again.

The competition here is even fiercer than in Huacheng. The market is overflowing with vegetables, and the prices keep dropping.

Kaopu Fresh isn't very well-known here, but thankfully they have chicken heart mustard to keep them afloat, which brings in some stable customers, though it's still quite tough.

For now, all we can do is endure it.

Only when people can't hold on any longer, when the vegetables in the fields are sold, dumped, or rotten, will the market possibly recover.

However, these things have little to do with Kaopu Fresh, whose main market is currently in Japan.

No matter how fierce the competition in the domestic market, the technical barriers set up by Japan mean that most domestic leafy vegetable companies are unable to enter the Japanese market.

Some companies have been trying, but have repeatedly encountered returns.

This has made reliable fresh produce sources that can pass through customs smoothly increasingly sought after, leading to increased orders and rising vegetable prices.

Almost every day, more than half, or even more, of the leafy vegetables produced at the three major production bases of Fanrong, Heli, and Jiangxin are shipped to Japan.

It's like making a fortune every day.

Furthermore, the bases in Minhang and Pudong New Areas, as well as the newly added Heli base, will soon be producing vegetables.

Chen Jiazhi only hoped that Japan could hold on a little longer when facing international pressure.

Although that's wishful thinking.

...

north.

A news report gradually attracted public attention.
-
Large quantities of leafy vegetables exported to Japan were returned due to excessive pesticide residues.
-
According to a report by the Japanese agricultural news agency, in early August, samples of spinach imported from Japan were found to have excessive pesticide residues…

The headline was eye-catching and directly highlighted the essence of the news, attracting widespread attention.

The report was quite lengthy, clearly outlining the cause, the process, and the impact.

Because cypermethrin is widely used in leafy vegetable cultivation, it has affected numerous provinces and cities.

After this news was published, it was reprinted and reported by many local newspapers and media outlets, which continued to expand the news's influence.

During this process, many media outlets also focused their attention on pesticide residues in vegetables.

In recent years, the issue of pesticide residues has been frequently raised, and the public has become almost numb to it.

Guided by certain individuals and public intellectuals, some people have begun to criticize and attack domestically produced leafy vegetables without any justification.

This trend quickly spread to Shanghai, and also to Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

(End of this chapter)