Prunes enter harvest season in Shandong

In Dutang town – administered by the Dingtao district of Heze city in East China's Shandong province – the arrival of the harvest season for the prunes has brought joy and activity to the orchards.

Zhang Xuan, in charge of a prune orchard there, said the harvest season started in mid-August and sales are mainly through group bulk purchases and individuals picking their own fruit. 

Luscious, ripe prunes hang from the branches in Dingtao district. [Photo by Ma Jin for chinadaily.com.cn]

On average, 20 to 30 people visit the garden daily, picking around 500 kilograms of prunes. Daily sales can reach up to 10,000 yuan ($1,375).
Tourists are happy about their quality and taste. One of the visitors, Huan Panpan, said she particularly enjoyed the taste and wanted to bring some home for her family.

Prunes originated from West Asia and Europe and are known for their rich nutrients and sweet taste. With ideal planting conditions – including good soil, ample light and water and careful management – the fruit produced in the region is flavorful and visually appealing.
This year, Zhang's 30-mu (2 hectares) orchard is expected to yield approximately 12,500 kilograms of prunes, bringing in a profit of nearly 180,000 yuan.

Zhang plans to expand the orchard, enhance the yield and quality of the fruit and reach more customers to increase expand sales. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)