High Quality Development Research Tour | Small Apples Create a Big Industry World - Insights on the Apple Industry Cluster in Luochuan, Shaanxi | Technology | Apples
Xi'an, September 11th, Xinhua News Agency (Xinhua) - Little Apples Create a Big Industry World - Insights on the Apple Industry Cluster in Luochuan, Shaanxi
Xinhua News Agency reporters Wang Yuhao, Zheng Xin, and Sun Qiaoqi
In the golden autumn season, the fields in Luochuan, Shaanxi are filled with the sweet aroma of apples. On the apple tree, early ripe red apples hang all over the branches. Jie Guisheng, a fruit farmer in Laomiao Town, Luochuan County, is busy harvesting fresh fruits. He told reporters, "This year, Luochuan has abundant rainfall, big apples, and sufficient moisture. It is expected to have a good harvest.".
In the enterprise workshop of the Luochuan Apple Industry Cluster not far away, there is another busy scene. In the natural partner brand sorting workshop of Yangang Fruit Industry Park, with the help of automated production lines, apples are inspected, sorted, cleaned, and boxed into large trucks.
On September 10th, at the Luochuan Apple Modern Industrial Park, staff packed apples in boxes. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Manyi
"Every day, about 15000 boxes of Luochuan apples are shipped from here to various parts of the country," said workshop manager Nong Er. This automated production line, which was newly put into use in March this year, not only increased production capacity but also improved the accuracy of sorting, improving customer satisfaction in e-commerce channels.
From "selling one season" to "selling four seasons", from "selling by pile" to "selling by individual", these changes of Luochuan Apple cannot be separated from continuous scientific research and development.
"Shouhong", "Jinqing", "Xiaoguo Guang"... In the dwarf dense planting garden of the Luochuan Apple Innovation Center, the new apple varieties tested and planted are overwhelming. "We planted over 200 types of apples here for experimentation, and selected high-quality varieties suitable for planting in Luochuan for promotion," said Wang Xiaodong, director of the Luochuan County Apple Production Technology Promotion Service Center.
In recent years, Luochuan County has continuously innovated its apple planting technology, established the Apple Science and Technology Innovation Center and Apple Research Institute, hired fruit tree experts to establish a technical research team, introduced thousands of apple germplasm resources from both domestic and foreign sources, and continuously bred new and excellent apple varieties.
On September 10th, staff recommended Luochuan apples live in the Luochuan Apple Modern Industrial Park. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Manyi
By cultivating and introducing new and excellent varieties such as "Venus Gold", "Qin Crisp", and "Ruixue", Luochuan apples have formed a diverse and complementary variety pattern of "early, middle, and late" and "yellow, red, and green". "New hybrid varieties like 'Qin Crisp' and 'Qin Mi' have a crispy taste and high sweetness, making them very popular in the market," said Wang Xiaodong.
A sound industrial system is essential for creating a big world for Little Apple.
In the apple industry cluster in Luochuan, Shaanxi, different enterprises fulfill their respective roles, bringing new vitality to this familiar fruit to consumers. Deep processing enterprises launch new products such as apple cider vinegar, apple cider, and apple chips to increase the added value of apples; Cold chain and preservation enterprises use refrigeration technology and cold chain systems to extend the "life cycle" of apples; E-commerce and foreign trade enterprises broaden their spending channels, allowing Apple to enter more markets
At the same time, related industries such as fruit bags, fruit boxes, and fruit nets are also constantly gathering, and a complete industrial chain around apples is becoming clear and visible.
On September 10th, at the Luochuan Apple Modern Industrial Park, staff prepared to transport the boxed apples onto the vehicle. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Manyi
With the rise of county-level tourism, traditional orchards also carry more leisure, sightseeing, and cultural experience functions. "Around the Luochuan apples, Yan'an City has created 5 apple sightseeing boutique routes, built 46 sightseeing parks, and attracted over 4.7 million tourists in total," said Wang Jianfeng, Deputy Director of Yan'an Fruit Industry Center.
Data shows that in 2022, the total output value of apples in Luochuan County reached 13 billion yuan, and about 95% of farmers' income comes from the apple industry.