CHINA – Staff members at Dalian Yidu, a major Chinese fruit and vegetable logistics and cool store provider, have been arrested by Chinese customs for allegedly importing prohibited fruit.

Sources tell AndNowUKnow that Liu Zhi, Chairman of Dalian Yidu, and his import department staff have been summoned by the authorities to cooperate with the government in this investigation and will not be allowed to speak to the public until the investigation is completed.

The National Business Review is reporting that Zespri is keeping a close eye on the situation. Dalian Yidu is Zespri’s sole importer for North East China, though it only deals with 5% of its kiwifruit volume in China.

3 News quotes a Zespri spokesperson as saying, “Dalian Yidu imports many New Zealand and global agricultural products and the company deals with less than five percent of Zespri’s China volume. Zespri’s NZ supply season to our markets, including China, finished quite a while ago and Zespri has no financial exposure to Yidu.”

The Bay of Plenty Times reports that following the arrests, all fruit imported to Shanghai by Dalian Yidu, including more than 150 containers of Chilean cherries and over 200 containers of Peruvian Red Globe grapes, have been seized, and the company’s bank accounts have been frozen.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this developing story.