In early autumn, the Pingliang region is filled with the sweet fragrance of fruits and vibrant growth. At the high-standard dwarf dense-planting apple orchard in Tongcheng Yuan, Jinping Town, Chongxin County, the last truck of "Red Sinico" Gala apples has just completed loading. This harvest season, all early-season apples were sold out completely, bringing delightful returns.

"These apples not only have bright colors but also deliver a crisp, sweet taste. They were snapped up as soon as they hit the market," said Wen Xuebin, Deputy General Manager of Chongxin County Agricultural Investment Company with excitement. "The 150-acre orchard produced over 400 tons in total, with farm gate prices exceeding 8 yuan per kilogram. Everything sold out in less than 10 days!"

From Chongxin's dwarf dense-planting orchards and Zhuanglang's terraced fruit gardens to Jingchuan's demonstration bases and Lingtai's large-scale planting areas, abundant fruits weigh down branches. Jingning County's over 80,000 acres of early-season apples are particularly vibrant red. Early-season apples are becoming the "golden fruit" for income growth among Pingliang fruit farmers. By competing with "earliness" for "excellence," they not only extend the market supply period but also inject new momentum into rural revitalization through substantial "sweet economy" returns.

"Pingliang is located at 35 degrees north latitude, which is the golden suitable zone for apples. The area has abundant sunlight, large temperature differences, and thick soil layers, producing apples with rich varieties and superior quality," said Wang Wei, Deputy Director of the Municipal Forestry and Grassland Bureau. Based on these advantages, various areas in Pingliang have adjusted their variety structures according to local conditions, gradually forming a coordinated supply system of "staggered market entry and diversified complementarity."

Kongtong District focuses on Gala as the main variety, combined with Huashuo and Honey Crisp to form a "product matrix," with peak production exceeding 4,000 pounds per acre. Jingchuan County specializes in premium varieties like Royal Gala, Golden Century, and Mei Ba, with 12,000 acres expected to generate output value of 160 million yuan. Lingtai County leverages the "short cycle" characteristics of Gala and Huashuo varieties to capture the market gap in late summer and early autumn. Chongxin County achieves sequential ripening through varieties like "Red Sinico" and "September Miracle," avoiding homogeneous competition. Zhuanglang County actively introduces new excellent varieties such as Huashuo and Qin Cui, increasing the proportion of early-to-mid ripening varieties to 20%, significantly extending the fresh fruit supply cycle. Jingning County employs a combination strategy of early, mid, and late ripening varieties to substantially enhance market risk resistance.

In recent years, Pingliang City has continuously promoted apple industry transformation, optimizing varieties and planting structures. Currently, early and mid-ripening varieties account for 12.9% of the city's total, not only achieving staggered market entry but also extending the fresh fruit supply cycle, gaining first-mover advantage in market competition.

Behind the industry prosperity lies Pingliang's scientific and meticulous management and comprehensive technical service support. Each area focuses on the critical ripening period of fruits, strictly implementing measures such as "disease and pest control, sugar enhancement and coloring," gradually building a modernized development model of "technology leadership and production-sales coordination."

Chongxin County organizes professional teams to provide on-field technical guidance. Zhuanglang County implements a system where technical personnel "cover townships and orchards," providing full tracking and standardized harvesting. Jingning County promotes standardized picking, sorting, and packaging at planting bases like Demei through demonstration garden leadership and market guidance. Jingchuan County establishes logistics connections and channels in advance, ensuring every good apple reaches the market smoothly.

"We implement a responsibility system where technical personnel 'cover areas, townships, and orchards,'" explained Wang Xuanqiang, Director of Zhuanglang County Fruit Industry Station. "Each technician is responsible for one township and 50-100 acres of demonstration orchards, providing comprehensive guidance from pruning, frost protection, flower thinning, green prevention and control, to harvesting, processing, and sales. Especially during apple ripening season, they spend almost every day in the orchards, helping farmers accurately grasp harvesting timing and implement standards to ensure fruit quality."

"This year's early-season apples entered the market early, have good appearance, and taste sweet, making them particularly popular in the market," said Guo Xingyue, Chief of Information Section at Pingliang Municipal Fruit Office. "Beijing merchants specifically came to Jingchuan to place orders, with Gala selling for 3.8 to 4.7 yuan per pound, and Huashuo reaching 4.5 to 6 yuan per pound. Farm gate prices for Huashuo, Luli, and Qinyang varieties in Chongxin County also exceeded 4.2 yuan, all selling out completely. Apples from Kongtong and Lingtai production areas are equally popular in the market."

From "growing well" to "selling well" and then to "strong branding," Pingliang City is promoting high-quality development of the entire apple industry chain with strategic vision. Through a combination strategy of "variety optimization + technology promotion + brand building," it truly transforms "small apples" into a "big industry." Currently, "Jingning Apple" has received 9 national honors and 21 major awards, been included in the EU Geographical Indication Protection List, with a brand value reaching 18.086 billion yuan.