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A peach of a time picking pudgy peentos aplenty
By Wing Tan |
July 18, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FARMERS at Luxiang Town are keen on branding peento peaches. The growing area now covers more than 800 hectares, and it's expanding thanks to government support.
The aim is for Luxiang peaches to become as famous as the grapes of Malu Town in Jiading District and the 8424 watermelons of Nanhui area in Pudong.
The symbolic "longevity peach" will be celebrated in the annual peento picking, eating and trading festival underway from Monday through August 10.
The orchards in Luxiang Town are China's biggest-growing center for the flat, sort of "squashed," or "donut" peaches with a sunken center. They are also called "Chinese saucer peaches."
Peento (pantao or twisted peach) planting goes back more than 30 years in Luxiang Town since it was introduced from neighboring Fenghua City in Zhejiang Province.
For years the peento industry was scarcely developed because of insufficient support and technological assistance.
The local government and agricultural committee have been committing more resources to peach growing in recent years. Seven years ago the planting area was just 33 hectares. Last year it was 667 hectares.
The area has developed two well-known brands, Huangmu and Hongling, that have received Shanghai's Certificate of Agricultural Safety and Good Quality.
In 2005, the Shanghai Huangmu Peento Peach Cooperative Association was set up in Luxiang Town. It draws together individual peach growers and farmers to reduce business risks, solve problems and maximize profits.
The association has about 250 farmer members and 36 model-planting bases, each over two hectares. The cultivation area is more than 270 hectares.
To guarantee good quality, a Luxiang Town peento planting standard system was also set up in 2005.
The oddly shaped fruit with delicate skin and sweet pink flesh stays fresh for five or six days longer than other peaches. The juicy fruit is also high in vitamins and minerals.
By working with the National Center on Disease Prevention and Pest Control, effective forestry programs are provided. The local forestry administration provides briefings on pest and disease control for peach growers who also are required to attend regular technical training and planting lectures.
Luxiang Town's peento peaches were so popular last summer that almost 80 percent were sold before they had been picked.
"People like peento peaches because they are rare in China and are also an auspicious symbol of longevity," says Peng Xuhua, director of the organizing committee for this year's peento festival.
To expand planting, the cooperative association is developing two new peach types, which will have a more regular shape, sweeter taste and stay fresh longer.
"Like the Malu grapes in Jiading District and Nanhui's 8424 watermelons, Luxiang peento peaches should also be branded," says festival director Peng.
The aim is for Luxiang peaches to become as famous as the grapes of Malu Town in Jiading District and the 8424 watermelons of Nanhui area in Pudong.
The symbolic "longevity peach" will be celebrated in the annual peento picking, eating and trading festival underway from Monday through August 10.
The orchards in Luxiang Town are China's biggest-growing center for the flat, sort of "squashed," or "donut" peaches with a sunken center. They are also called "Chinese saucer peaches."
Peento (pantao or twisted peach) planting goes back more than 30 years in Luxiang Town since it was introduced from neighboring Fenghua City in Zhejiang Province.
For years the peento industry was scarcely developed because of insufficient support and technological assistance.
The local government and agricultural committee have been committing more resources to peach growing in recent years. Seven years ago the planting area was just 33 hectares. Last year it was 667 hectares.
The area has developed two well-known brands, Huangmu and Hongling, that have received Shanghai's Certificate of Agricultural Safety and Good Quality.
In 2005, the Shanghai Huangmu Peento Peach Cooperative Association was set up in Luxiang Town. It draws together individual peach growers and farmers to reduce business risks, solve problems and maximize profits.
The association has about 250 farmer members and 36 model-planting bases, each over two hectares. The cultivation area is more than 270 hectares.
To guarantee good quality, a Luxiang Town peento planting standard system was also set up in 2005.
The oddly shaped fruit with delicate skin and sweet pink flesh stays fresh for five or six days longer than other peaches. The juicy fruit is also high in vitamins and minerals.
By working with the National Center on Disease Prevention and Pest Control, effective forestry programs are provided. The local forestry administration provides briefings on pest and disease control for peach growers who also are required to attend regular technical training and planting lectures.
Luxiang Town's peento peaches were so popular last summer that almost 80 percent were sold before they had been picked.
"People like peento peaches because they are rare in China and are also an auspicious symbol of longevity," says Peng Xuhua, director of the organizing committee for this year's peento festival.
To expand planting, the cooperative association is developing two new peach types, which will have a more regular shape, sweeter taste and stay fresh longer.
"Like the Malu grapes in Jiading District and Nanhui's 8424 watermelons, Luxiang peento peaches should also be branded," says festival director Peng.
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