People can't get enough of Lingbao apples

An apple grower gleefully harvests the fruits of his labor in Sanmenxia's Lingbao county, Henan province. [Photo/Sanmenxia Daily]

Lingbao, a county-level city under the administration of Sanmenxia, Henan province has garnered a reputation for its one-of-a-kind apples, which were recently honored as the Charming Brand of the Year at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Lingbao is able to grow vast amounts of apples every year, with an annual output exceeding 1.4 million metric tons, owing to a considerable growing acreage of 900,000 mu (60,000 hectares).

The mountainous region, which has a 100-year-plus history of apple farming, is particularly suited for the crop due to favorable geography and climate.

"We have established a branch in Tacheng, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, as well as two sales outlets in Novosibirsk, Russia. We also have an office in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, which has allowed us to form a long-term partnership with a local agricultural company in the region. Our annual sales have reached 30,000 tons, with exports totaling 20,000 tons", said Lingbao Yonghui, director of one of the leading enterprises.

Lingbao apples have gained in popularity after winning a number of national prizes and accolades owing to their high quality and rich flavor.

Lingbao ranks first among county-level fruit brands across the nation, with a total value exceeding 18.3 billion yuan ($2.9 billion).

In order to further boost the brand, the government has enlisted 20 experts and trained over 20,000 skilled workers in management techniques. It also invests nearly 10 million yuan in brand promotion every year.

The county has sold its products to 168 markets in 62 cities and has even expanded overseas, reaching a total of 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, and Russia.

Planting and management is one thing, but robust sales will build more confidence in growers. Efforts are being made to increase demand for the apples, according to He Jun, mayor of Lingbao.

Lingbao has even expanded business to the beverage market in recent years by producing juice squeezed directly from the apples. With a highly efficient logistics system, the county managed to ship approximately 45,437 tons of the juice in 2017, for a total revenue of 307.2 million yuan.