新西蘭車釐子中國熱銷 果園上空現直升機'護果'

New Zealand cherry producers are flying helicopters low over their orchards to dry off raindrops and protect thousands of tons of their product headed to Asia to feed rapidly Growing demand from Chinese people.

爲滿足中國人民迅速增長的需求，新西蘭車釐子種植者正駕駛直升機在果園上空低空飛行，將準備出口至亞洲的數千噸車釐子上的雨滴吹乾以保護果實。

Growers in Central Otago are paying thousands of dollars an hour to fly helicopters over trees to stop rainfall from cracking fruit.

中奧塔哥地區的果農正在支付每小時數千美元的費用，駕駛直升機在果林上空飛行，阻止雨水破壞果實。

To ensure the good quality sought by Asian buyers, the choppers have been flying just one meter above the trees, operating like fans to blow away moisture left by recent rain.

爲了確保亞洲買家追求的高品質，直升機剛好在果樹上方1米的高度飛行，像風扇一樣將近期雨水殘留的水分吹乾。

The Chinese mainland has grown to become the second largest destination for New Zealand cherries after Taiwan in the past seven years.

過去7年間，中國大陸逐漸成爲新西蘭車釐子的第二大出口地，僅次於中國臺灣。

Exports are expected to grow to around NZ$50m this season, according to Tim Jones, chairman of Summerfruit NZ, which represents growers.

據代表果農的新西蘭夏季水果行業協會主席蒂姆·瓊斯介紹，本季新西蘭車釐子出口額預計增至約5000萬新西蘭元。

Exporters and growers said they received constant requests for as much as fruit they could grow during Chinese New Year.

出口商和果農均表示，中國新年期間，他們接到了源源不斷的訂單，供不應求。

"The demand is phenomenal," said Tracey Burns, who handles international cherry sales at produce exporter Freshmax.

在產品出口商Freshmax負責車釐子國際銷售的特蕾西·伯恩斯說道：“需求真的非常驚人。”