A Taiwanese fruit tasting took place on New Covent Garden Market’s Buyers’ Walk on Thursday morning, as the Far East country’s exporters and a Manchester-based import partner look to gain a wholesale market foothold in the UK.

The tasting was put on by a Taiwan Agricultural Export Integration Platform, which works closely with local Agriculture Bureaus, Farmers’ Associations and growers across Taiwan to bring high-quality Taiwanese agricultural products to international markets.

San Cheng, of Taiwan Agricultural Export Integration Platform, had toured the Market a week previously and wanted to meet as many of the wholesalers as possible, to establish direct relationships. “Taiwan has a wide range of distinctive seasonal fruits and agricultural products. We are currently building and integrating the supply chain and sales channels from Taiwan’s production areas through to the UK market,” she said.

“Taiwanese Irwin mangoes have recently entered the French premium retail market, including Galeries Lafayette, while Golden Diamond pineapples and red-heart guavas were among the products we introduced to the UK earlier this year alongside Tainan City Government, at IFE. Taiwanese Irwin mangoes and lychees subsequently introduced to the UK have also received encouraging market feedback."

Alongside UK import partner Cherrain Global Ltd, San brought a wide range of Taiwanese fruits for traders to taste and give their professional feedback — including premium Arus melon, grown one fruit per plant, alongside three distinctive mango varieties, wax apples, dragon fruit, pink guava, pineapple, passion fruit and other seasonal produce.

The fruit was extremely well received – many traders stopped by to taste it, offer their opinions and talk with San and Kris Tang, of Cherrain Global. “We hope this will be the beginning of introducing more distinctive Taiwanese agricultural products to UK professional buyers, wholesalers, restaurants, hotels and retailers,” said San.

If the response was anything to go by, customers can expect to see that happen very soon.