In Yongjing County, the sweet scent of honeysuckle fills the air, bringing prosperity to farming families.
In early summer, a gentle breeze sweeps across the fields of Sanyuan Town in Yongjing County, where vast stretches of honeysuckle vines spread out in layers. Buds in shades of green and white adorn the branches, and the lingering, slightly bitter medicinal aroma permeates the rural landscape. This is the prime season for harvesting honeysuckle. Across the expansive flower fields, farmers carry bamboo baskets and skillfully pick the blossoms, painting a vivid picture of ecological beauty, thriving industry, and increased income for the people, all contributing to the broader vision of rural revitalization.
At the thousand-acre honeysuckle cultivation base in Gaobai Village, Sanyuan Town, the view is one of lush greenery and blooming flowers. Thanks to ample rainfall and suitable sunlight this summer, the entire field is flourishing, promising a bountiful harvest. In the fields, villagers are seizing the clear weather to busy themselves with harvesting. Drawing on years of cultivation experience, they adhere strictly to the picking principle of "selecting the two-white buds, not the fully opened flowers," carefully choosing high-quality buds that are just about to bloom. With nimble fingers and practiced movements, they work skillfully to preserve the appearance and medicinal value of the honeysuckle to the greatest extent possible.
"We started picking honeysuckle in early June. Each person can pick about 10 jin per day, earning an average daily income of forty to fifty yuan, which is enough for the daily expenses of the elderly. Everyone is very motivated to pick," said Li Guofu, a villager from Gaobai Village, in simple and honest words that reflect the tangible benefits the honeysuckle industry brings to local farmers. For the elderly and留守 residents in the village, honeysuckle picking has a low barrier to entry, a long harvesting周期, and provides stable income. Without needing to seek work away from home, they can balance family responsibilities, farm work, and income generation, truly achieving both caring for their families and increasing their wealth. The golden sea of flowers at their doorstep has completely transformed into a "sea of prosperity" for the people.
Previously, although Yongjing honeysuckle was of high quality, it was long trapped in the predicament of "good flowers not fetching good prices." Farmers engaged in scattered cultivation and self-processing through sun-drying, relying on weather conditions and employing rough storage methods. This led to inconsistent flower color and uneven dryness, not only damaging the appearance and severely reducing medicinal efficacy but also weakening the market bargaining power of local high-quality honeysuckle. Consequently, the full value of this优质 agricultural product was difficult to realize. To address these industrial shortcomings and activate the value of local resources, Yongjing County, leveraging its advantages in特色 agriculture, has made comprehensive efforts to extend, supplement, and strengthen the honeysuckle industry链. It has established an integrated development system encompassing cultivation, collection and storage, processing, research and development, and sales.
Relying on the leading role of Gansu Liujiaxia Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd., the locality has built standardized processing plants and introduced modern drying production lines, completely moving away from the traditional model of散户 scattered sun-drying and low-price sales. Freshly picked honeysuckle is immediately sent to the processing workshop. Through standardized, mechanized精细 processing steps such as sorting and impurity removal, enzyme deactivation and temperature control, and drying and grading, 14 air-source heat pump dryers operate at precise constant temperatures, effectively locking in the natural color and medicinal components of the honeysuckle. Processing efficiency has been significantly improved, with a daily fresh flower processing capacity reaching 25 tons. This not only解决了 the pain points of fresh flowers being prone to spoilage and difficult to store but also ensures uniform product quality and excellent appearance, greatly enhancing the market competitiveness of the products.
Deepening efforts in细分 industrial sectors and advancing精深 processing are key measures for improving quality and efficiency in Yongjing County's honeysuckle industry. Gansu Jiujianpeng Honeysuckle Technology Co., Ltd. has been deeply involved in the local industry for many years. Since its establishment in 2019, it has closely followed the county's industrial development plan, continuously完善 the industrial system, and promoted the transformation of the honeysuckle industry from初级种植加工 to精深研发. The company has established a complete industrial system covering cultivation and procurement, initial processing, and deep processing. It has successfully developed a series of daily chemical products using honeysuckle, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap, and toothpaste. Currently, the company's production line is officially operational. The series of本土 daily chemical products have successfully entered major supermarkets within the county,顺利走向市场, achieving a significant increase in the added value of the agricultural products.
From the buds blooming in the fields to the refined daily chemical products on supermarket shelves, Yongjing honeysuckle has undergone a remarkable transformation from a初级 agricultural product to a high-value-added consumer good. The series of honeysuckle-based daily chemical products adhere to the concept of green and natural ingredients. They are温和 in texture and carry a清雅 floral scent, aligning with current public demand for healthy consumption. These products serve as both daily essentials for the people and unique cultural and tourism souvenirs with distinct Yongjing characteristics, allowing local风物 to走出乡村 and expand into broader markets.
Today, Yongjing's honeysuckle industry has achieved leapfrog development. It has progressed from零星种植 to thousand-acre flower seas, upgraded from粗放加工 to standardized production, and expanded from单一 agricultural products to a diversified product matrix. The honeysuckle blooming on the plateau not only adorns the beautiful countryside but also solidifies the industrial foundation for rural revitalization. It continuously injects a steady stream of green momentum into improving the quality and efficiency of the county's agriculture, ensuring stable income growth for farmers, and promoting the high-quality development of rural areas.