Chinese durian lovers rejoice as new rail routes bring supply surge and lower prices

Not long ago, eating a whole durian was a splurge for many Chinese households, with the fruit’s demanding storage and transport requirements helping to keep prices high. This summer, the pungent spiky fruit has become cheap enough for “durian price plunge” to become a trending topic on Chinese social media. Retail prices for some durians have nearly halved, plunging to below 40 yuan (US$6) per kilogram, according to Chinese media reports. At Guangzhou’s Jiangnan wholesale fruit and vegetable...