Blooming Apple Orchards in Gansu’s Jingning County Usher in Busy Farming Season

Pingliang, Gansu – As spring unfolds across northwest China, apple trees in Jingning County, a major apple-producing region in Gansu Province, are in full bloom. On 26 April, farmers in Zuitou Village, Chuan Town, Jingning County, were busy thinning blossoms in the orchards, a crucial step to ensure high-quality fruit and a bountiful autumn harvest.

Nestled in the Loess Plateau at around 35°N, Jingning is recognised as one of China’s top apple-growing counties, with orchard coverage exceeding 1 million mu (approximately 66,700 hectares). The apple industry has long served as the backbone of local rural income generation, lifting tens of thousands of households out of poverty and into prosperity.

The county’s unique natural endowments – high altitude, abundant sunshine, large day-night temperature differences, and deep, fertile soil – create ideal conditions for cultivating premium apples. Jingning apples, primarily red Fuji, are renowned for their bright colour, crisp texture, juiciness, and long shelf life. They have earned multiple national accolades, including Geographical Indication (GI) Product status and China Well-Known Trademark recognition.

Since the 1980s, Jingning’s apple sector has evolved from scattered planting to a fully fledged industrial chain. By 2025, the total output value of the industry had surpassed 26 billion yuan, with the brand value of “Jingning Apple” reaching 18.1 billion yuan. The apples are exported to over 20 countries and regions, including Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Russia, and France, following successful GI protection and international trademark registrations.

To maintain competitiveness, local authorities have prioritised modernisation and standardisation. A three-tier technical service system provides farmers with training on advanced techniques such as precision fertilisation, scientific pruning, and drip irrigation. Smart orchards equipped with IoT sensors and drone monitoring have been introduced to enhance efficiency and fruit quality.

“Thinning blossoms helps optimise fruit distribution and improves size and sugar content,” said a local agricultural technician. “Every spring, we guide farmers through these practices to lay a solid foundation for the harvest.”

For local farmers, apples are more than a crop; they are a lifeline. “Our family’s income mainly comes from the apple orchard,” said Zhang Xiaohong, a farmer in Hejian Village, Leida Town. “With good management, our 12-mu orchard can bring in over 300,000 yuan annually.”

As of 2025, the apple industry in Jingning supports around 196,000 residents, with per capita fruit income exceeding 8,000 yuan, accounting for over 75% of farmers’ total disposable income. The sector has also spurred the growth of related industries, including fruit processing, packaging, logistics, and rural tourism, forming a integrated development pattern.

With the flowering season at its peak, Jingning’s farmers are confident about the months ahead. Through careful orchard management and continuous technological innovation, they aim to build on the county’s reputation for high-quality apples and further boost rural vitalisation and sustainable development in the region.