Loquat Harvest Drives Rural Income Growth in Huzhou’s Wuxing District, Zhejiang

As temperatures rise steadily, loquats across Wuxing District of Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, have entered full ripening season, with thousands of mu of loquat orchards ushering in a bumper harvest. The local loquat output has increased compared with previous years, while market prices have also climbed steadily. The characteristic loquat industry has become a key driver for local villagers to boost household income and achieve rural prosperity.

Endowed with superior water and soil resources near Taihu Lake, Wuxing District features ideal growing conditions for high-quality loquat varieties. Favorable meteorological conditions during the growth and ripening period have improved the plumpness and sweetness of local fruits, supporting a stable increase in overall yield.

Local loquat sales models continue to diversify alongside industrial development. Growers adopt a combined sales system integrating offline wholesale and online live-stream retail. Pre-order sales occupy the majority of seasonal trading volume, covering 60 to 70 per cent of total loquat sales. Freshly harvested loquats are delivered nationwide via professional cold-chain logistics, reaching major consumer markets across northern and eastern Chinese regions while maintaining optimal freshness.

The district further extends the industrial value chain by integrating loquat cultivation with rural tourism and agritourism experiences. On-site fruit picking programmes attract numerous tourists from surrounding Yangtze River Delta cities, generating additional income for local rural areas and enriching the development model of the characteristic agricultural sector.

Ongoing upgrades in agricultural infrastructure underpin the sustainable development of the local loquat industry. Standardised picking management, professional cold storage facilities and improved logistics systems effectively reduce post-harvest losses and enhance product circulation efficiency. Local authorities will continue to optimise brand building and industrial chain construction to strengthen the market competitiveness of Wuxing loquats and support the steady development of rural characteristic agriculture.