In Baili Town, Cangxi County, Sichuan Province, over 170 mu (≈11.3 hectares) of Yangmei (Chinese bayberry) have ripened at the Yaode Family Farm. Nestled among lush green leaves, the plump, juicy berries are a feast for the eyes — drawing large numbers of city residents and families to drive out and enjoy picking the fruit themselves.

Just a 20-minute drive from the county seat, the farm’s convenient location and reputation for eco-friendly, pesticide-free farming have made it a weekend favorite for groups of friends and families traveling by car.

For years, the Yaode Yangmei Farm has adhered to all-natural cultivation with zero pesticides and zero chemical fertilizers. This commitment to organic quality has won market praise year after year. It is also the only large-scale, dedicated Yangmei growing base in Cangxi County. Two premium varieties are grown here: Dongkui (large, thick-fleshed) and Biqi (sweet-tangy, juicy). Their ripening periods are staggered, making fresh-picked fruit available throughout the entire month of June. This harvest season is expected to welcome over 10,000 visitors, steadily boosting rural leisure tourism in the suburbs.

According to Zhong Yao, head of the family farm, this year’s fruit yield has steadily increased, with a total fresh fruit output of about 30,000 jin (15 metric tons). The farm’s business model focuses mainly on on-site picking, supplemented by a small supply to local supermarkets. Annual revenue is projected to exceed 400,000 RMB (approx. 55,000 USD).

— by Liu Min, Wang Tao

四川苍溪：杨梅挂满枝 采摘正当时

 当前，四川省苍溪县百利镇耀德杨梅家庭农场170余亩杨梅成熟了，翠绿枝叶间缀满颗颗杨梅，令人垂涎欲滴，吸引大批城区市民、亲子团体自驾入园采果游玩。

苍溪县百利镇耀德杨梅家庭农场距离县城仅二十分钟车程，优越的地理位置加上原生态种植口碑加持，不少市民利用周末时间自驾组团前来采摘游玩。

据悉，苍溪县百利镇耀德杨梅园区多年来坚持零农药、零化肥自然生态种植，凭借原生态品质连年收获市场好评，也是苍溪唯一的规模化杨梅种植基地。园区内的东魁果大肉厚、荸荠酸甜多汁，两大品种错峰成熟，采摘周期将持续整个6月，采摘季预计累计接待采摘游客1万人次以上，将持续带动近郊乡村休闲客流增长。

苍溪县百利镇耀德杨梅家庭农场负责人仲耀介绍，今年园区挂果量稳步提升，预计鲜果总产量3万斤左右，依托现场采摘为主、少量本地商超供货为辅的模式，全年营收有望突破40万元。（刘敏 王韬 ）