Nucleic acid test reports for cherries are spotted at a fruit store in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, Jan. 24, 2021. (Photo/China News Service)
(ECNS) -- Many fruit stores in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu Province, began selling cherries with nucleic acid test reports after previous imports in the city tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
A storm of online comments followed the positive test, with some netizens saying they would not eat imported cherries any longer. Others joked they were not worried about infections because they could not afford the expensive imported cherries anyway.
So-called "cherry freedom" was once a buzzword in China as imported cherries were costly and most people in the country could not afford them "without a second thought".
Although imported cherry prices were cut sharply, demand still plummeted over mounting consumer worries after samples of imported cherries were found to be COVID-19 positive. A half kilogram of imported 2J cherries had sold for more than 100 yuan (about $15.4).
Now, two kilograms of imported 1J cherries in a gift box sold for 99 yuan, and the equal weight of 2J cherries at 199 yuan at a fruit shop in Huishan District in Wuxi.
Yet most consumers just took a look at the fruit and passed by.
At another chain brand fruit store, cherries were placed at the entrance in a striking position. Next to the cherries there is a laboratory report from "CCIC Medical Diagnostic Testing Center (Shanghai)", informing consumers the imported fruit were COVID-19 free.
"This is to reassure consumers, as the pandemic has had a big influence on imported cherries," a fruit store salesperson said.
The headquarters of virus prevention in Liangxi District has launched an epidemiological investigation, quarantining those having come in close contact and conducting more nucleic acid sampling.
