In the golden autumn season, the vast apple orchards in Zhongliang Town, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City are laden with red apples bending the branches. Behind the busy figure of veteran fruit farmer Zhang Baoting lies a thirty-year transformation of this land from low-yield barren fields to fruitful orchards. "Life is as sweet as apples" has become the common sentiment of local farmers.

The rise of Qinzhou's apple industry is rooted in the natural advantages of the 35°N optimal growing belt - high altitude, strong sunlight, and significant day-night temperature differences provide a natural foundation for apple quality. What truly enabled the industry transformation was the deep integration of modern agricultural technology. Through promoting technology combinations such as "organic fertilizer + spindle-shaped pruning + reflective film," orchard light transmission rates and fruit quality rates have significantly improved, shifting agricultural production from "depending on weather" to "working with weather knowledge."

Moreover, Qinzhou District's innovative models have injected sustained momentum into the industry. The "e-commerce platform + cooperatives + farmers" collaborative mechanism has solved the challenges of scattered operations, with online orders reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds. Government support includes upgrading old orchards and infrastructure improvements. In 2025, the district's apple production is expected to reach 450,000 tons with an output value of 1.8 billion yuan, becoming a pillar industry for enriching farmers.

Today, more and more young people are returning to become "new farmers," bringing new vitality to traditional orchards through drone plant protection and live-streaming sales. Rural landscapes have been completely renewed, and farmers' lives continue to improve. The upgrade path of Qinzhou's apple industry represents a vivid practice of the rural revitalization strategy in fields and farmlands.