In Guangping County's Pinggudian Town, a 300-acre apple base south of Damiao Village is bustling with activity as melodious music blends with the rich aroma of ripe fruit. The vibrant red "Xiangfu" apples hang densely from branches, glowing like strings of red lanterns under the early winter sun. A single bite reveals crisp, juicy flesh with a sweet, rich flavor and no fibrous residue.

Base manager Jia Yongping explains, "Our apples are 'fed' organic fertilizer and 'drink' purified water while growing up to music—earning them the name 'Music Apples.' Thanks to their superior quality, the profit per acre is three times that of ordinary apples." Workers are busy harvesting these premium fruits.

Jia Yongping and Zhang Guoxiang, both former construction contractors, long harbored a dream of returning home to start a business and give back to their community. Recognizing the strong market demand and high profitability of premium fruits, they decided to invest in specialty orchard cultivation. In 2019, with support from the Pinggudian town government and the county’s natural resources bureau, Zhang Guoxiang consolidated 300 acres of land through transfers and invested 10 million yuan to establish a high-standard apple plantation.

To ensure top-tier quality and market competitiveness, the base introduced two premium varieties—late-ripening, high-sugar, and storage-resistant "Xiangfu" and "Venus Golden"—with technical guidance from apple cultivation experts from Qixia City, Shandong. The farming process incorporates mushroom compost, fermented sheep manure, and mushroom residues as base fertilizer, along with dwarfing and dense planting techniques. Water from storage pools undergoes purification before being delivered via smart micro-drip irrigation, tailored to the trees’ growth stages for optimal nutrient absorption, enhancing juiciness and texture.

Additionally, leveraging research showing that sound waves stimulate plant cells—improving sugar distribution, sweetness, nutrition, and pest resistance—the base installed speakers on 62 lampposts to play soothing music daily, aiding tree growth.

The scientific approach has paid off handsomely. This year’s harvest is thriving, yielding 4,000 kg per acre. Thanks to their superior quality, these apples hit the market over a month later than regular ones, attracting buyers from Shandong, Henan, and beyond. With direct earnings of 18,000 yuan per acre—triple the average—the venture achieves both economic and ecological success.

"Next, we plan to expand production and adopt a 'base + farmers' model to involve more villagers, sharing expertise and market resources. We aim to make 'Music Apples' a true 'fortune fruit' for our community, injecting fresh vitality into rural revitalization," Jia Yongping shared confidently.

Correspondents: Liu Shuzhen, Wu Xia, Hao Wenhe