An executive of the Brazilian association of growers and exporters of fruit, Abrafrutas, has expressed confidence that exports of melon from Brazil to China will begin next month, CGTN reports.

Abrafrutas Project Manager Jorge de Souza told the Chinese state-run television broadcaster that Chinese importers were interested in buying Brazilian melons in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, when Chinese melons were out of season.

”We will start with a few samples of our products, a few containers, so that we can understand local preferences for flavour and texture. Once we define those parameters, importers will outline the possible volumes,” Mr de Souza said. “Our production capacity is suitable for planned growth, and it’s within China’s consumption expectation, which is bigger than Brazil’s.”

China and Brazil struck this month an agreement to trade melons, but some details have yet to be settled, CGTN says.