Changmei hosts green plum tourism festival

On Dec 30, the town of Changmei in Huanjiang county of Hechi hosted a tourism festival in celebration of its green plum industry and vibrant rural landscape.

Local children perform at the opening ceremony in Changmei, Hechi, Guangxi, on Dec 30. [Photo by Ran Hongyi/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This is the second time that the annual festival has been hosted by the local government to promote the area’s plum products. The festival featured local art performances, calligraphy, folk song concerts, mountain biking shows and a bonfire party to promote the fruit industry.

Although green is not the color that usually comes to mind when people think of plums, the Huanjiang variety of this stone fruit are actually green when ripe and characterized by its sour flavor. The county’s cultivation of green plum stretches far back into history according to local annals and historical records.

Huanjiang county has awarded Changmei green plum, which boasts thin skin, thick flesh, small pits and a mildly sour flavor, with geographical indication (GI) certification for the town’s brand protection. Businesspeople from Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces come to purchase them as ingredients for various plum products such as fruit preserves and jams. The demand for Changmei green plum exceeds the supply with companies from Vietnam having already placed their orders this year with Changmei's three cooperatives.

Locals dressed in traditional garments celebrate with dance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The little green fruit has become the lifeblood of Changmei, as the town features 7000 mu (466.67 hectares) of green plum plantations, 2000 mu of which are high-yield green plum trees. The annual output is now equal to about 4,500 tons, with the annual income for some growers going as high as 80,000 yuan ($12,100).

Local students paint at the opening ceremony. [Photo by Tan Feng/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]    

Mo Xuzhan, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Huanjiang County People's Congress hopes the festival has benefited the economy and will help lift people out of poverty.

Changmei has developed a poverty alleviation model, which combines the efforts of the Party, the green plum production bases and the Changmei cooperatives to lift poor families out of poverty, said Mo Guoxi, Party chief of the town.

The government is encouraging the less fortunate to grow green plum for both economic and ecological development, as the plant is a not only profitable, but is also ecologically friendly.