Cranberries to caviar: China's hidden agricultural treasures revealed in unexpected exchanges

This winter, tourists from southern regions flocked to Northeast China for vacations and were greeted with warm hospitality and attentive care from locals. In a gesture of gratitude, various regions sent their local specialties to the Northeast, and in return, the Northeast reciprocated with its own local products.

However, the nature of these specialties turned out to be completely unexpected, even to many locals. For instance, Heilongjiang province sent cranberries to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and Sichuan province reciprocated with caviar to Harbin.

These unexpected exchanges left not only outsiders unaware of the agricultural products in these regions but also astonished locals, who exclaimed, "So, 'local specialty' actually means intentionally produced behind locals' backs."

This wave of surprises has prompted people everywhere to start exploring the hidden agricultural products of their own hometowns. From Xinjiang's salmon to Anhui's foie gras and Shanghai's saffron, it turns out that each region has its own hidden treasures.

When it comes to foie gras, many people immediately think of France. However, in Huoqiu county, Lu'an, Anhui province, one can find authentic French-style foie gras. Lu'an has a history of raising geese and is known for the high-quality local white geese.

In recent years, the area has started industrial upgrading, introducing the world-renowned Landes goose, a breed specifically used for foie gras production, originally from France. The local soil and climate in Lu'an are suitable for its growth. Huoqiu has become the largest foie gras production base in the country, with over 140 farms raising Landes geese, producing over 5,000 metric tons of foie gras, and with an annual output value of nearly 2 billion yuan ($279 million).

When it comes to agricultural specialties from Xinjiang, most people immediately think of Hami melons, Aksu apples, and raisins.

However, Nilka county in Xinjiang also produces salmon. With the glacial meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains, Nilka boasts an excellent natural environment for the growth of cold-water fish. In 2014, a local company invested in and built a salmon breeding base in Nilka, importing fish eggs from abroad. Salmon from Nilka is not only sold throughout China but also finds its way to tables around the world.

The current trend of uncovering hidden agricultural specialties in various regions began with the exchange of 100,000 boxes of high-quality cranberries from Heilongjiang to Guangxi. This surprise not only shocked locals but also astonished people across the country, who were amazed to learn that Heilongjiang produces cranberries.

In the common perception, cranberries are mostly imported from North America. However, as early as 2014, cranberries were introduced from North America to Fuyuan county in Heilongjiang. By 2023, the area under cranberry cultivation had reached 280 hectares, with an output of around 3,000 tons, making it the largest cranberry cultivation base in the country.

Fang Qiang, the president of Northeast Agricultural University, explained that Heilongjiang is located in the "world's small berry planting zone," with significant climatic advantages. The region is abundant in small berries such as blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, and sea buckthorn. The annual output value of small berry processing enterprises in the province exceeds 3 billion yuan, ranking first in the country.

Other surprising local specialties include the caviar from Ya'an, Sichuan, the annual production of which in 2022 reached 50 tons, accounting for 12 percent of the global market; saffron, a precious Chinese medicinal material, from Chongming, Shanghai, which has been made into various products such as masks, alcohols, and cakes in recent years; matcha from Tongren, Guizhou province, which boasts the world's largest single matcha workshop.

Moreover, the hairy crabs from Yuncheng, Shanxi province, and the Australian lobsters and South American prawns from Chongqing have also surprised locals. Currently, this fervent exploration of local agricultural products is ongoing. In this process, people are beginning to find more about their own hometowns.

Behind the exclamation "How did I not know this?" lies a sense of pride in the vibrant development of one's hometown.