Blueberry Industry chain promotes Huaxi district's rural vitalization

Tourists pick blueberries at Huaxi district's ecological blueberry garden. [Photo/WeChat account of Zhizhi Guiyang]

Relying on its natural advantages, Huaxi district in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, has developed fruit picking gardens, which encourage tourism in surrounding rural areas and increase the income of villagers.

The ecological blueberry garden in Bailong village cultivates plenty of high-quality blueberry varieties, covering an area of over 200 mu (13 hectares). The natural advantages of significant temperature differences between day and night, rich organic matter in the soil, and several ecological management and protection methods ensure the quality and sweetness of the fruits.

Thousands of tourists can pick and taste blueberries on site and purchase them for 40 yuan ($5.56) per kilogram. They can also enjoy rural cuisine and barbecue, immersing themselves in the romance and peace of the wild.

More than 30 villagers serving at the base have had an average monthly income increase of 2,400 yuan per person. The whole village has increased its annual income by 150,000 yuan due to land transfer and dividends. The gardens also cooperate with surrounding distilleries and bakeries to process blueberries into various products.

In recent years, relying on the regional public brand "Huaxiaomei", Huaxi has promoted the standardization and scaling of blueberry planting through the model of "enterprise + cooperative + farmers".