The expansion of the Majia pomelo industry in Shangrao, Jiangxi province, continues to attract new growers, including returning residents such as Ning Bo and his wife, Feng Qiuyan. The couple left their jobs in Hangzhou earlier this year to develop a pomelo orchard and a small farm café in Guangfeng district. They plan to use pomelo-based products, including a pomelo-infused coffee, to build a market identity.
The Majia pomelo planting area has doubled since 2016, with exports reaching markets including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Ning said the aim is to develop a co-created brand centred on the fruit. "We launched a specially blended coffee with the pomelo to attract young people," he said.
Shangrao authorities continue to support orchard modernization. Smart farms in Guangfeng use drones for spraying and automated track systems for transport. "The track system was installed last year and put into use this year," said Li Yufu, a transport worker. He noted that output on one farm rose from just over 500 metric tons to more than 750 tons.
Harvest-season labour demand remains high. According to technician Zhou Tifu, 40 to 50 villagers are employed during picking. "Those who work year-round can earn more than 30,000 yuan (about US$4,218) a year," he said.
Post-harvest infrastructure has also advanced. Guangfeng's grading and testing centre measures size, weight, and sugar content to standardize fruit destined for the fresh market. Intelligent sorting systems processed 28,500 tons last year, about 30 per cent of total output, with graded fruit achieving an average 22 per cent price premium.
Majia pomelo is listed among China's eight major pomelo varieties. Guangfeng district reports 13,333 hectares in production, with an annual output of 250,000 tons and a total industry value exceeding 3 billion yuan (about US$421 million). Local officials say the industry has created 115,000 jobs and increased the incomes of more than 50,000 growers.
Export-oriented producers continue to expand markets. Xu Wen, general manager of Jiangxi Fengguang Biotechnology Co., said, "We started exporting in 2017, reaching markets in Italy, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Singapore." The company shipped nearly 100 tons to the UK last year, with total exports reaching about 2,500 tons.
Ning and Feng plan to integrate agritourism and educational activities into their operation. "I hope to do my part to contribute to my hometown. And let more people taste the unique flavor of Majia pomelo," Ning said.
Source: ChinaDaily
