China: Streamlined customs procedures expedite Lychee exports from south China's Hainan.

Storyline Streamlined customs procedures expedite Lychee exports from south China's Hainan Lychee exports from southern China's tropical island province Hainan are surging as authorities streamline procedures to get the perishable fruit to international markets faster. According to customs statistics, between the start of the lychee harvest season and May 6, Hainan exported 110 batches of lychees, a year-on-year increase of nearly 40 percent. At one 13-hectare lychee orchard in the region, workers carefully select ripe fruit, with almost 90 percent destined for export. The owner said a new sorting site near the orchard helps them save about 1.5 hours in processing time. They also use a lychee test system to ensure freshness. Cai Fudai, testing officer, agricultural service center: "Testing results will come out within 30 minutes, and we ill upload the data to the provincial system. Once the information is received at the Xinhai port, [a refrigerated] truck will head to the dock. After taking a electronic photo, the fruit exports can leave the island quickly." Another farmer, who began exporting lychees two years ago, said he's planning to tap into even more markets by leveraging the region's accelerated development for trade and exports. Zheng Xuezhi, owner, Xiaozheng farmer: "Our orchard covers nearly 27 hectares, with 10 percent of our produce sold overseas, mainly to Italy and Canada. We will invest in a new packaging facility, so that we can expand into the UK, the U.S. and the Australian markets." Local customs authorities have also created a guide for farmers to establish fully traceable and searchable records of lychee planting, production, harvesting, storage and transport. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]