Golden autumn produce such as walnuts, chestnuts, and kiwifruit from deep mountain regions, sweet potatoes and selenium-rich peanuts from sandy soils, along with Zhangqiu scallions and Laiwu ginger, were all on display at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center, drawing crowds of residents eager to sample and purchase seasonal goods.
As the season of ripe fruits and fragrant melons arrives, the 9th Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival is on the horizon. On September 18, the "Spring City Premium Agricultural Products and Facility Vegetable Autumn Consumption Promotion Event," organized by the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, officially kicked off. The event brought together more than 200 exhibitors presenting over 600 high-quality agricultural products, spanning categories like grains, oils, fruits, vegetables, livestock, poultry, and processed foods.
Zhan Siang, a representative from the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, explained that the initiative aims to build a comprehensive platform for product displays, supply-demand connections, and farmer income growth. "This event is designed to make the harvest festival truly a celebration for farmers to increase earnings and for citizens to enjoy shopping," he said. The expo features ten major functional zones, including district-level agricultural product exhibition areas, facility vegetable display sections, farming culture and sports interactive zones, scenic rural county photo galleries, and gourmet tasting areas, offering a panoramic view of Jinan's agricultural vitality and a feast that integrates sight, sound, taste, shopping, and entertainment for the public.
Notably, a dedicated area highlights assistance and collaborative agricultural products. In the "Jinan Village-Based First Secretaries Farmers' Market" section, over 60 first secretaries brought more than 170 specialty items, acting as enthusiastic vendors to champion their assisted villages and introduce more fresh, field-to-table products to urban residents. Additionally, the "Strong County Supporting Weak County" agricultural product zone showcases 57 specialty items from counties such as Dong'e, Gaotang, and Mengyin across Shandong, displaying and promoting products from paired assistance regions, thereby helping expand sales channels and boost brand recognition for these areas.
Zhou Lingling, deputy director of the Dong'e County Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, shared that their delegation brought golden pears and mugwort-based products. "This expo provides a valuable opportunity for Dong'e's unique agricultural byproducts to gain exposure and broaden sales avenues," she noted. "By leveraging Jinan's consumer market and exhibition platform, we aim to introduce more citizens to Dong'e's premium goods, enhance the brand influence of local specialty products, and drive income growth for farmers across the industry chain."
At the booth of Liu Shifang, Party secretary of Shangzhuang New Village in Qingping Town, Gaotang County, neatly arranged displays featured Qingping hanging noodles, selenium-rich peanuts, and green wheat products. Liu was busy engaging with visitors, explaining the unique qualities of these items and the region's growing advantages. "The sandy soil in Qingping Town is ideal for crops like sweet potatoes and peanuts," she said. "We hope to use this harvest festival platform to introduce the excellent products from Gaotang's sandy lands to more citizens and buyers."
The event is scheduled to run through September 20.
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