Thread: Substandard durian on sale in China not imported from Thailand

Durian, reported to be on sale in some Chinese cities, were not exported from Thailand, but are substandard produce from elsewhere, according to Alongkorn Polabutr, an advisor to Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on and a member of Thailand’s Fruit Board.


Alongkorn said today (Tuesday) that Chalermchai had immediately ordered the Thai commercial attachés in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangdong to investigate a report on social media that some customers had bought durian in Shanghai, at about 1,000 baht per kilogram, and then discovered that they were not Thai durian, because they “tasted different”.


He said that the Thai commerce attachés in Shanghai immediately conducted an investigation and discovered that durian are not yet on sale in the shops, but are available from mobile vendors on pickup trucks, which usually make roadside stops to sell durian at night and during weekends, usually on Xinhua Road.


He said that these vendors sell durian at prices lower than those available in shops, but their quality is substandard, adding that they do business at night because they have to avoid the police.


Alongkorn also said the attachés spoke to five shop-owners who sell Thai durian and were told that the Thai varieties are more expensive than those from Vietnam and most Chinese customers know the difference, although they could not distinguish the fruit from its external appearance alone.


The only possible indication of the source of the durian is the sticker on the durian stem, he said.

Substandard durian on sale in China not imported from Thailand | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Originally Posted by misskit

adding that they do business at night because they have to avoid the police.

Well, there's a fuckking clue.

Wasn't it smelly enough?

Originally Posted by sabang

Wasn't it smelly enough?

Dont really know your durian, the Malay and Indonesian are much stronger smelling and tasting.

So Thai durian is substandard? No, don't know my durian.

Originally Posted by sabang

So Thai durian is substandard? No, don't know my durian.

Thai Durian is considered the best by aficionados.

I just spoke with a Vietnamese lady today that said her company exports lots of fruit north, including durians.

Originally Posted by aging one

Dont really know your durian, the Malay and Indonesian are much stronger smelling and tasting.

Fooled by Siamese fruit, the eternal victory of hope versus experience.

Originally Posted by Topper

I just spoke with a Vietnamese lady today that said her company exports lots of fruit north, including durians.

Get on it Topper.

:sleuth:

It's a market not to be messed with. Daughter has a friend (attempted boyfriend) whose parents have one of the larger old established Chanthaburi durian farms.
This year, rolling in it (baht not durian) - two new cars and a new house to move into on the auspicious date of 28 December.

Thai PBS World :
Durian is Thailand’s top export earner, outranking rice and rubber
June 13, 2022

Thai durian has outranked rice and para rubber as Thailand’s top export performer, with export volume last year estimated at about 187 billion baht, compared to 100 billion baht for rice exports and 90 billion baht for rubber, according to the Centre for International Trade Studies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Director of the Centre Assoc. Prof. Dr. Att Pisarnvanich said that, in the next five years, Thailand is likely to retain its position as the world’s leading durian exporter, but its export market share may shrink from 85% to 76%, due to stiff competition from both Vietnam and Malaysia.

The only possible indication of the source of the durian is the sticker on the durian stem, he said.

If they're willing to knock off Durian, I'm pretty sure they're willing to knock off the stickers as well.

Thai durian has outranked rice and para rubber as Thailand’s top export performer, with export volume last year estimated at about 187 billion baht, compared to 100 billion baht for rice exports and 90 billion baht for rubber, according to the Centre for International Trade Studies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Holy cow.