Shen Zilie's eyes lit up, and he nodded, "Xiao Lu, do you have any good ideas?"
"I don't have a good plan right now, but we have to try. As you said, we can't rely on Liyang, and it's not something that can be achieved in a short time to cultivate the market. If we want to make a move, we need to go to big cities like Changzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai." Lu Weimin thought for a moment and said, "Moreover, this matter should be handled as soon as possible. The shelf life of kiwifruit is too short."
"En, Xiao Lu, I have an idea. You are from Changzhou and are familiar with the situation there. I plan to discuss with Secretary An and County Chief Wang and entrust this matter to the County Commercial Bureau and the Agricultural Bureau. You will also be responsible for overseeing this. I will take the lead, and you will act as a liaison. Is there any problem?" Shen Zilie's tone became more formal, and his gaze fell on Lu Weimin's face.
"Secretary Shen, I have no problem with it. I'm just worried that the Commercial Bureau and the Agricultural Bureau may not have much experience with this kind of thing. If we can have a leader from the County Party Committee Office take the lead, it might be easier to handle," Lu Weimin thought carefully. He was not familiar with the County Commercial Bureau and the Agricultural Bureau. If a few people were assigned to handle this matter, he would be in an awkward position as a liaison. However, if Zhou Yuming, the director of the Agricultural Office, took the lead, many things could be coordinated through him, making it much simpler.
Shen Zilie was slightly stunned but quickly understood. He nodded in agreement. His secretary considered the issue quite thoroughly and meticulously, even far surpassing those who had been secretaries for several years. This was not easy for a recent college graduate. "Hehe, I was a bit short-sighted. Alright, I think Zhou Yuming should take the lead. This matter is related to agriculture, and he, as the director of the Agricultural Office, is also responsible."
As expected, when Shen Zilie reported this matter to the Party Secretary An Dejian and County Chief Wang Zirong, it did not receive special attention from these two main leaders. However, they agreed to immediately report it to the regional administration and request that the regional administration give it due attention and consideration.
Once it was confirmed that Zhou Yuming would take the lead in handling this matter, Lu Weimin devoted all his attention to how to solve the sales problem of kiwifruit.
In the early 1990s, only big cities like Beijing and Shanghai had kiwifruit. Even in provincial capitals like Changzhou, kiwifruit was rarely seen. Most of these places imported kiwifruit from New Zealand under the name of "kiwi," which was expensive, typically priced between 8 and 10 yuan per kilogram, far exceeding the prices of common seasonal fruits like apples, peaches, pears, and bananas.
It's not that kiwifruit had no market in these cities. The reason was that although kiwifruit originated in China, it was New Zealand that truly improved and commercialized its cultivation and consumption. New Zealand's cultivation of kiwifruit made significant progress, and through strong marketing capabilities, it quickly opened up markets in Europe, America, and Japan and South Korea. This led to kiwifruit entering the high-end market in China.
However, the high price of around 10 yuan per kilogram made kiwifruit difficult to popularize in the domestic fruit market. Nevertheless, many consumers knew that this fruit, known as the "King of Vitamin C," was not only delicious but also more nutritious than other fruits.
"Wei Min, whenever you call, it's never for anything good. I was thinking we could chat about our recent experiences, but it turns out you just want me to help you gather information. Hehe, selling fruit, I really admire you. A top graduate from Lingnan University, and now you're selling fruit?" The voice on the phone, with a slight Cantonese accent, sounded very familiar. "So, you're saying kiwifruit is a specialty of your hometown? I thought we only imported kiwifruit from New Zealand. I haven't heard of domestic kiwifruit cultivation."
Huang Shaocheng was assigned to the Lingnan Provincial Development and Reform Commission after graduation. He was always indecisive, wanting to return home to help his family, but his father firmly disagreed and insisted that he work in the government. He went to great lengths to help him stay in the province, leaving Huang Shaocheng with no choice.
"Shaocheng, don't distract me. Kiwifruit is originally from China. It was just that a few decades ago, the New Zealanders quietly transplanted it, improved it, and commercialized its cultivation, then cultivated the international market. Now they are reselling it back to us. It's embarrassing. We used to have wild kiwifruit here, but the quality and yield were poor, so we had to introduce better varieties from elsewhere. The soil and climate in Nantang are very suitable for kiwifruit cultivation, and this year, we will have a large harvest of high-quality kiwifruit."
Lu Weimin didn't want to waste time on the phone. "But the domestic market hasn't been cultivated yet. This fruit seems to have a market only in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, and it doesn't store well. That's why I need your help to gather information."
"Wei Min, gathering information is not a problem, but you need to consider the transportation time and cost. The distance from here to Changjiang is not short. Moreover, the government can't take full responsibility for the sales, right?" The voice on the phone fluctuated, but it was still clear.
"Shaocheng, I know. I've asked Cao Lang to help me gather information in Beijing. In the south, I can only turn to you. I had to make several calls to get your number. Fortunately, it's a public phone, or I would be heartbroken about the cost." Lu Weimin laughed. "Shaocheng, this is very important to me. It's the first important task assigned by my leader. If I can't handle it, I won't be able to face my leader. You have to help me."
"Hey, we're brothers. Don't worry. Gathering information about the market and prices is simple, but selling kiwifruit from Nantang to Guangzhou is not that easy. It's not just a few hundred pounds; it's hundreds of thousands of pounds. Hehe, you need someone specialized to handle it." The voice on the other end of the phone was very honest. "I can help you find some connections, but don't have too high hopes. You need to explore multiple channels. Cao Lang in Beijing has a wide network. I think he can help you."
"I'm using every means possible. I'm also in touch with Luo Kang to see if he can help me find a market in Hangzhou. But he's busy in Wenzhou and doesn't have as much free time as you." Lu Weimin checked the time. This long-distance call had been going on for a while, and the phone bill for the County Party Committee Office, which had long-distance calling capabilities, might not be cheap this month.
"Alright, Wei Min, don't think I'm just sitting around drinking tea and reading newspapers. I'm still a newcomer with a lot to do, and I'm being treated like a dog, having to handle everything. I don't know when this will end. My father insisted I stay here, or I would have left long ago to find my freedom." A sigh came from the other end of the phone. "Ah, forget it. Wei Min, when will you come and visit me? Your life is more fulfilling. At least you can strive for your own goals. I have to endure a life I don't like."