Hawthorn industry boosts rural vitalization in Shandong district

A distinctive industry value chain of hawthorn forms in Laiwu district, Jinan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Pangjiazhuang village in Laiwu district, Jinan, Shandong province has been nurturing a distinctive hawthorn industry value chain to revitalize rural areas.

Laiwu Wanbang Foods Co Ltd, a leading enterprise in the village, processes hawthorns into products such as snacks and wines that are exported globally.

The company collaborates with local cooperatives, leasing nearly 1,000 mu (67 hectares) of land from six surrounding villages. Through brand operation, its hawthorn products reach customers through wholesale, e-commerce, supermarkets, and pharmaceutical chains, and have exports to Japan, the United States, and the European Union.

According to Qi Xianrui, Chairman of Laiwu Wanbang Foods Co Ltd, the company processes 60,000 metric tons of fresh hawthorns annually, ranking first in China in processing capacity. "The workers in our factory, with an average age of around 60, are from nearby villages," he added. 

Additionally, the company collaborates with several universities in Shandong, developing a variety of hawthorn products, including the da'nanshan dried hawthorn, listed among the first batch of "excellent products" from Shandong province.

"We will integrate the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries to create a new format that combines hawthorn cultivation, research and development, and educational tourism," Qi said. (Edited by Li Weiwei)