'Home of Nectarine' of China Sells More Than 100,000 Tons Nectarines Overseas with over CNY 360 million Annual Output Value

Currently, nectarines are being harvested and ready to be on the market in Wan'an Town which is located in Xinjiang County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. "Just a few days ago, the cooperative just sold a batch of more than 20 tons of fresh nectarines to Kyrgyzstan, and will later export to Southeast Asia and other countries," said Cui Zhenhu, head of Wan'anxian Fruit Professional Cooperative.

As the largest production base of high-quality nectarine in North China, Wan'an Town has a cultivated area over 36,000 mu of nectarines, accounting for 70 percent of the arable land in the town which is known as the "Home of Nectarines". At present, most of nectarines are grown in big fields in Wan'an Town, while others are in greenhouses. The town has cultivated more than 30 varieties in three series: early, medium and late maturing.

Nectarines from Wan'an Town are not only sold all over China, but also exported to Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Southeast Asia, with an annual export volume of over 10,000 tons. "The nectarines here are of good appearance, good taste and high sweetness. As the preferred nectarine product for overseas merchants, they are very popular in the market," Cui Zhenhu introduced.

Nectarines in Wan'an Town [Photo via the Publicity Department of Xinjiang County Municipal Committee of Yuncheng City]

In the 1990s, the people in Wan'an Town started growing nectarines. With the help of the renewal of varieties and planting patterns upgrading, the average income grew from the original CNY 5,000 to CNY 25,000 per mu, and per capita income of peach farmers increased from CNY 8,000 to CNY 20,000.　

During the harvesting seasons for nectarine, in addition to peach farmers, there are also some "brokers", travelling through the fields in Wan'an Town. Acting as a bridge between farmers and merchants, they are responsible for sorting, loading and selling nectarines to places where the orders came from.

Zhang Yuping, aged 57, who used to be a peach farmer, is now one of the peach farmer brokers and a leader in nectarine cultivation and business industry. As a farmer in the new era, he helps villagers grow nectarines scientifically through his cultivation techniques and accumulated experience, and also helps them sell nectarine at a good price. "Now for the peach farmers in the town, each household plants several varieties. Every year from April to August, they always have nectarines available for sale. According to market needs, we plant different varieties of nectarines to try to cover as many markets as possible to ensure the income of peach farmers," Zhang Yuping said.

Selected nectarines are about to be exported overseas. [Photo via the Publicity Department of Xinjiang County Municipal Committee of Yuncheng City]

"Wan'an Town, led by 26 nectarine professional cooperatives and more than 200 peach farmer brokers, sells more than 100,000 tons of nectarines every year, with an annual output value of over CNY 360 million," Zhang Xiayan, the deputy mayor of Wan'an Town, introduced that this year Wan'an Town put more effort into online sales, so that more peach farmers can sell nectarines from their own fields with more money earned.