In Gansu Province's Pingliang City, millions of acres of apple orchards have entered a dormant season. Yet, the Jingning Apple Cold Chain Logistics Park in Jingning County buzzes with activity. Farmers and merchants negotiate prices around apple samples, while workers in the sorting area busily grade, pack, and load crates. Boxes labeled "Jingning Apple" are ready for shipment across China and overseas markets.
"Clear storage and trading plans are already in place," said Sun Jiekun, head of the logistics park's operations team, on December 4. Contracts totaling 45,000 crates have been signed with partners such as Gansu Ganwei Group, Shanghai RT-Mart Supermarket, and buyers from Shandong Yantai and Guangdong. The park plans to store 61,000 crates, with orders worth 6.3 million yuan.
Traditionally reliant on autumn harvests, Jingning's apple industry has transformed through technological innovation. The shift from seasonal to year-round production and from traditional farming to modern agriculture has turned the "golden fruit of the Loess Plateau" into a globally recognized brand.
**Breeding Superior Seedlings, Strengthening the Industry’s Foundation** In the sterile lab of Jingning Fruit Research Institute, virus-free saplings like "Chengji No.1" and "Jingning No.1" thrive. "These seedlings are disease-resistant and bear fruit one to two years earlier, giving growers confidence," explained a technician. Local research yields millions of high-quality saplings annually, addressing issues like inconsistent external seedling quality and delayed fruiting.
By September, early-ripening apples in Jingning’s orchards reached peak harvest. Farmer Li Duiwan sold his 3-acre yield at 6 yuan per jin, earning over 90,000 yuan. "My 10-acre orchard includes early varieties that sell out fast," he said.
New varieties and farming techniques, part of Pingliang’s "Four New" model (new varieties, technologies, methods, and mechanisms), have revitalized aging orchards. In 2024, premium-grade apples accounted for 76% of Pingliang’s output, with per-acre profits up 35% from three years ago.
**Technology Drives Sustainable Growth** The "Green Manure+" system, developed by scientist Chai Qiang’s team, improves soil health through winter-summer cover cropping. Meanwhile, the "Smart Orchard" system uses real-time data on light, humidity, and nutrients to optimize irrigation and fertilization digitally.
**Extending the Value Chain, Unlocking Brand Potential** At Gansu Xiwu Youpin Bio-Tech, apples are processed into crisps, dried snacks, and even apple blossom tea. "Our ‘Apple Jerky’ uses a triple-steam-and-bake method to retain nutrients," said CEO Wang Xing. The products, now in major supermarkets, reflect Jingning’s shift from fresh sales to high-value goods like pectin and polyphenols. The deep-processing capacity has reached 165,000 tons, boosting the industry’s value to 26 billion yuan.
**From Farm to Global Fame** A digital traceability platform tracks apples from saplings to sales, allowing consumers to scan QR codes for origin, growth data, and quality reports. With optimized hardness, sugar-acid ratio, and vitamin C levels, Jingning Apples meet or exceed industry standards, earning national certifications and a regional brand value of 18.1 billion yuan.
Exported to over 30 countries, Jingning Apples reach global consumers via wholesale, e-commerce, and community group buying. "Our ‘Loess Sweetness’ now graces tables worldwide," proudly said Ma Jianmin of Pingliang Longquanyuan Modern Agriculture.
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