Yunnan's durian harvest hits peak season

Durian trees grown in Menghan town of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, entered their peak harvest season on Wednesday.

Xishuangbanna Jiale Agricultural Technology operates a 20.67-hectare durian plantation, where 3 to 4-year-old Monthong durian trees have gradually started to bear fruit, and 5-year-old trees yield fruit consistently.

A single durian tree can produce up to 34 fruits at a time. Though the average durian weighs around 3.7 kilograms, they can reach as much 8 kgs.

Durians are a popular tropical fruit. They thrive in warm, humid environments, growing best at temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Raising them is difficult without the right water, soil, and sunlight conditions.

Xishuangbanna is one of the few prime regions in China suitable for developing a durian industry. Presently, the region is home to around 1,000 hectares dedicated to durian cultivation.

According to Ao Pingxing, director of the durian industry research center at Yunnan Agricultural University, durian cultivation is in the critical period of transitioning from small-scale trials to commercial exploration.