During the mid-autumn season, 39 modern greenhouse units stand in orderly rows in Linhong Village, Huangchuan Town. Inside, vegetables at different growth stages are developing according to their own timelines. What determines harvest timing is no longer the traditional 24 solar terms, but rather the delivery schedules of central kitchens and supermarkets located dozens of kilometers away. Site manager Xu Xiaokai has spent a decade completing a fundamental transformation on this land, shifting from a "production-supply-sales" model to one that is "sales-driven production."

From 'Three Uncertainties' to 'Made-to-Order'

When Xu entered the industry in 2015, growing vegetables in bamboo-frame sheds exposed him to the hardships of the "three uncertainties": not knowing what to plant, not knowing who to sell to, and not knowing what the price would be. Following trends often led to oversupply and desperate price cuts. Learning from this painful experience, he reversed his approach, securing downstream markets before arranging production. Today, the greenhouses have been upgraded to steel-frame structures, and Xu has maintained nearly a decade of stable cooperation with central kitchens like Songlin and Tongda, as well as agricultural supply chain companies and supermarket chains. While no large-scale framework orders have been signed, a steady daily supply rhythm is sustained. Each greenhouse cycles through 6 to 7 planting rounds annually, producing an average of 30,000 pounds per mu per year.

From 'Relying on Weather' to 'Locking in Freshness'

To preserve freshness, all 39 greenhouses have implemented integrated water-fertilizer drip irrigation systems. Insect-proof mesh has been installed along both sides of the structures to minimize pesticide usage. The base is also equipped with a 70-square-meter cold storage facility and two refrigerated transport vehicles, enabling same-day harvest and shipment. This solves the previous problem of rapid wilting of summer vegetables after picking. Additionally, the base promotes a planting-breeding recycling model. Discarded vegetable leaves are harmlessly processed into livestock feed, while animal manure ferments and returns to the fields, creating a "zero-waste" ecological micro-cycle. This integrated chain saves tens of thousands of yuan annually on fertilizer alone, reducing production costs while maintaining ecological standards.

From 'Farming Anxiety' to 'Earning Income Close to Home'

The most direct beneficiaries of this industrial transformation are the surrounding villagers. The base daily employs more than ten local residents, boosting their monthly income by nearly 3,000 yuan on average. Villager Wang Erdao, busy packing produce, smiled as she calculated her earnings: "Previously, when I farmed my own land, poor market conditions meant constant worry. Now there's work all year round, I earn a steady 3,000 yuan a month, and I can still take care of my family after work. Life feels secure!"

Having completed his decade-long industrial transition from "growing first, finding buyers later" to "customized production based on demand," Xu Xiaokai's model is set to expand. Moving forward, Huangchuan Town will continue promoting this order-based agricultural model that prioritizes "finding the market first, then organizing production," driving precise connections between farmland and urban dining tables. This approach aims to strengthen specialty industries that enrich local communities and inject robust momentum into the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas.