Asparagus industry sparks rural vitalization in Shandong's county

As China's "hometown of asparagus", Caoxian county in East China's Shandong province has significantly advanced its asparagus processing industry, establishing itself as the region's leading export-oriented agricultural sector.

Local enterprises process individual white asparagus spears by segmenting them into three parts to cater to different dietary preferences in three European countries. China exports over 70,000 tons of canned asparagus annually, with Caoxian county alone exporting more than 50,000 tons, accounting for over 60 percent of the national total. As a result, Caoxian has emerged as a leading global supplier of canned asparagus.

Workers are busy processing the asparagus freshly picked from the farmland. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Pan Shuguang, department manager at Countree Food, asparagus is transported to the factory within six hours of being picked, with processing completed in two hours. These asparagus products, known for their long shelf life, are then transferred to the warehouse and shipped to customers 10 days later.

The final canned asparagus productions from the enterprises of Caoxian county. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Caoxian county boasts a comprehensive and expanding industrial chain for asparagus, spanning from seed production and seedling cultivation to planting, processing, and final export.

The asparagus planting area in Caoxian county has reached 6,666.67 hectares, yielding an annual production of 120,000 tons. The county hosts 24 asparagus processing enterprises employing over 100,000 workers. These enterprises collectively generate an annual export revenue of $200 million.

Caoxian county has successfully transformed its small-scale asparagus cultivation into a robust industry, contributing significantly to rural vitalization. (Edited by Zhang Ying)