HARBIN - Heihe Port on the China-Russia border registered strong growth in fruit and vegetable exports to Russia in the first three quarters of this year, data from the port showed Monday.

As of September, a total of 57,500 tons of fruits and vegetables were exported from China to Russia via the port, up 39.56 percent year-on-year.

Potatoes, onions and turnips were the most popular vegetables, while apples, oranges and grapes were the top three fruits entering Russia.

Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is a major fruit and vegetable exporter to Russia, as the country's winter is long and local produce cannot meet the demand.

The appreciation of the ruble and an increase in the recognition of Chinese produce has led to the surge in export volume, according to staff at Heilongjiang Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

An important port in Heilongjiang, Heihe is only 100 meters from Blagoveshchensk, capital of the Amur region in the Russian Far East.