Lychee freshness sees quantum leap

Guangdong's lychee exports are expected to surge in the years to come after scientists in the South China province achieved breakthroughs in ultralow temperature lychee preservation technologies, effectively extending the shelf life of the popular fruit.

Zhu Zhiwei, an associate professor at South China University of Technology, said that by using the special technology system of ultralow temperature freezing, dormancy and locking in the freshness of the fruits, the shelf life of lychee can be extended to one year.

"And after thawing, the 'frozen dormant lychee' can retain between 80 percent and 90 percent of the initial quality, allowing consumers to enjoy the sweet fruit all year round," Zhu said.

Thanks to the advances in lychee preservation technology, more than 200 metric tons of the fruit preserved in June 2023 have seen robust sales in supermarkets and on major e-commerce platforms, including Freshippo and JD, since May, he said.

The new technology effectively alleviates the annual pressure of seasonal concentrated sales of lychee, he said.

The round red-skinned and white pulped lychee, together with longan, mango and papaya, are regarded as four major typical fruits in South China and play a big part in Guangdong's agricultural production.

Guangdong lychee are usually seen in many major supermarkets in the United States, with prices ranging from $4.99 to $5.99 a pound (0.45 kilogram) in previous years.

The new technologies will help further strengthen the research and development of lychee deep processing products and extend the industrial chain to develop high-quality lychee-based wines, vinegar, lactic acid bacteria fermented beverages, beauty cosmetics and other high-value-added products in the future.

Guangdong's lychees are loved by many, but freshness preservation of the fruit has long troubled farmers and vendors. When refrigerated, the fruit can be stored for about 10 days.