Belgium’s largest fruit growing co-operative become the first company to received import approval from the Chinese authorities for Belgian Conference pears. This is the first time that any Belgian fruit or vegetable has been authorised for direct export to China. The first load of pears left East Flanders in December before being loaded in a temperature controlled container on a ship bound for Shanghai. A logistics operator based in Antwerp is overseeing all aspects of the pear shipments, working closely with shipping lines, container manufacturers and insurers to test different shipping options. It is hoped that this will open up the huge Chinese market for all the members of the Belgian co-operative.