Century-old trees and tech build a prosperous industry

Technological applications are also being introduced to individual persimmon growers in Pingle.

Huang Shaohua has seen the quality of his persimmons soar in recent years, thanks to technologies such as drone-assisted plant protection and strict green cultivation protocols that ban unauthorized additives.

"My family farm cultivates over 6.67 hectares of persimmon trees, yielding more than 300 metric tons of fruit annually," Huang says during the delivery of his harvest in early December.

Xu Shaoxuan, chairman of Guilin Guonong Ecological Agriculture Technology Co, identified the persimmon's potential and founded the Leshi brand in 2015.

His company developed a premium variety, the "ice persimmon", in 2023, after eight years of research and development.

The variety boasts an almost 70 percent sugar-water ratio, Xu says.

Its successor, the "golden persimmon", launched in 2024, has generated over 6 million yuan in output value, he adds.

Today, the company's products have reached Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia, and it pays dividends to 10 neighboring village collectives, he notes.

Local authorities have seen the potential in persimmons and have integrated the industry into broader tourism landscapes.

They have also initiated innovative mechanisms that connect businesses, cooperatives and farmers to ensure the benefits flow directly to rural households.

"The industry has evolved from simple farming into a modern, integrated system," explains Liu Yongzhong, deputy director of the Guilin municipal Party committee's leading office for rural affairs.

"It's a journey from standardized planting for quality, to technology for extended value chains and finally, to integration for new growth spaces," Liu explains.

This year, Pingle's persimmon planting area spans 12,000 hectares, with an expected output of 620,000 tons, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi.

Efforts are underway to develop Pingle into a five-star, modern, distinctive agricultural demonstration zone that supports the high-quality development of the persimmon industry, according to a senior official from the Guangxi department.

A network of more than 240 processing enterprises forms a complete industrial chain with an annual output value exceeding 6 billion yuan, creating nearly 150,000 local jobs.

"The secret to turning a small fruit into a big industry lies in unwavering quality, continuous innovation, and strong branding," states Huang Qiang, Party secretary of Pingle.

"We are committed to an eco-friendly path, aiming to grow this into a 10-billion-yuan industry. These century-old trees are becoming a powerful engine for increasing incomes and vitalizing our countryside."