“Plump, smooth-skinned, and earthy yellow or tan with a green tint—these red-heart kiwifruits are the best ones our farm has produced this year. They’re absolutely sweet, so feel free to pick and enjoy them.” On September 1, at the kiwifruit planting base of Yuanlong Family Farm in Jingzhou, red-heart kiwifruits ripened gradually, with vines laden with plump, juicy fruits. Farm owner Wu Shengkai shuttled among the trees, skillfully picking the “sweet fruits” while recommending the farm’s kiwifruits to visitors. His joy over the harvest was evident.
Located in the Qinglong area of Yuanlong Village, within the territory of Jingzhou’s Paiya Mountain State-Owned Forest Farm, Yuanlong Family Farm primarily focuses on fruit cultivation. In early September, as 1.4 hectares of red-heart kiwifruits entered season of picking, the round, plump, and richly flavored fruits attracted many tourists who came to taste, purchase, and experience the joy of autumn harvesting.
“I just picked one to try—it’s incredibly sweet and delicious. I’d like to pick more today to bring back for my relatives and friends,” exclaimed Ms. Lu, a tourist from Changsha. Since the farm is nestled deep within the Forest Park (Paiya Mountain) and close to the county town, Ms. Lu brought her family to enjoy the scenic views of the forest park while picking kiwifruits for a fresh taste.
It marks the fourth year of fruiting for the farm’s red-heart kiwifruits, with an expected yield of 35,000 kilograms. Based on current market prices, the projected income is over 60,000 yuan. In recent years, Yuanlong Village has actively leveraged the cohesion and service capabilities of its Party organization to stabilize the “foundation” of the village-level collective economy. By utilizing the unique geographical location, environment, and climate of the forest park, the village has encouraged farmers to introduce and develop industries such as kiwifruit and medicinal herbs through the Party member leadership, nurturing large-scale growers, and mobilizing the masses. Scientific planting techniques and advanced management practices have been brought to villagers’ doorsteps, expanding planting scale into an industrial-sized operation and driving sustained income growth for the entire village. Meanwhile, the village has continuously innovated and expanded sales channels through new media and e-commerce platforms, promoting the integration of online and offline sales to overcome the “last mile” of agricultural product sales.
In recent years, Jingzhou has capitalized on its ecological advantages and adopted a targeted approach to the “ecology + specialty” development path. Through policy support and technical guidance, the county has vigorously encouraged farmers to develop specialty planting industries. This has not only effectively revitalized land resources and enhanced agricultural efficiency but also boosted rural tourism and energized the rural economy through specialty fruits. The specialty orchards have become “forests of prosperity” for rural revitalization.
(Translated by Qu Qiongxue)