As the golden autumn breeze ushers in the season of abundant fruits, the chestnut groves across Yongde are transitioning from verdant green to branches heavy with ripe nuts, signaling the arrival of the annual harvest peak just ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chestnuts in villages and towns throughout the county have successively ripened and opened for picking, with the mountain fields exuding a rich nutty aroma and laden with fruit. The countryside is bustling with farmers working diligently to gather their bountiful yields.
In the chestnut plantation at Manggang Village, Dedang Town, the warm autumn sun bathes the hills in comfort, and the air is thick with the promise of a good harvest. Across the vast groves, farmers are seizing the clear weather and the optimal picking period, working in small groups amidst the trees—a vibrant tableau of rural labor. Armed with bamboo baskets and shoulder panniers, they weave through the staggered woodland, bending to collect fallen nuts, carefully sorting and selecting the best specimens with practiced, unhurried skill. Each handful gathered represents a tangible reward, and their faces beam with unpretentious, sunny smiles of abundance, as every household relishes the joy of bringing in a full and promising harvest.
"The period around the Mid-Autumn Festival is always the prime time for chestnut harvesting. This year, the growth has been exceptional—the nuts are large and plump. Picking them while the weather holds brings a deep sense of relief and satisfaction," shared a local farmer. Reporters on the ground witnessed the county-wide harvesting frenzy firsthand, capturing vivid scenes of the mountain's generosity.
The region's unique natural endowments have cultivated the exceptional quality of Yongde chestnuts. Situated in an optimal ecological planting belt, Yongde boasts distinctive topography, ample temperature variation between day and night, and fertile, mineral-rich mountain soil, providing ideal conditions for chestnut growth, sugar accumulation, and nutrient density. Adhering strictly to natural growth cycles, the chestnuts mature and fall naturally in the wild, growing entirely untouched by artificial intervention. The ripe nuts feature firm, plump flesh with a vibrant hue, offering a soft, powdery, and delicate texture that is both sweet and richly aromatic. Combining superior taste with high quality, they have long enjoyed strong market demand and an excellent reputation, ensuring consistently stable sales channels year after year.
The plentiful harvest is translating into tangible benefits for growers. Yin Meilian, a villager from Hetang Natural Village in Dedang Town, is overjoyed as she surveys her chestnut orchard's prolific yield, a full basket of freshly gathered nuts at her side. "I have over 50 chestnut trees, and they've thrived this year, producing a large quantity of high-quality nuts. During this peak season, I can collect over 100 jin a day. Once the harvest is complete, I expect to gather one to two tons—it's shaping up to be another excellent year!" Thanks to the trees right at their doorsteps, farmers are seeing their incomes genuinely rise, with the humble chestnut transforming into a 'sweet industry' that ensures stable income and fosters prosperity.
The robust harvest in the fields is mirrored by lively market activity. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, seasonal chestnuts have become a hot consumer item. Supermarkets and farmers' markets across the county are prominently displaying fresh chestnuts, which have emerged as a top-choice ingredient for pre-holiday shopping, with supply and demand both surging. "Sales have been exceptional in the lead-up to the festival. We source all our chestnuts directly from farmers in surrounding villages, guaranteeing that every nut is freshly harvested local produce—high in freshness, excellent in quality, and affordably priced. This not only meets consumers' holiday needs but also genuinely helps farmers expand their sales reach and increase their earnings," explained Wu Dongyun, assistant store manager. This direct procurement and retail model provides customers with peace of mind regarding quality and safety, while saving farmers from marketing hassles and boosting their income, creating a win-win scenario for consumer spending and rural prosperity.
The small chestnut is sowing the seeds of great hope for rural revitalization. Currently, chestnut harvesting and sales are progressing smoothly across Yongde County, with vistas of plenty unfolding in every township, permeated with an atmosphere of abundant harvests and contented living. In recent years, Yongde has been deeply exploring its mountain and forest ecological advantages, continuously refining the production-supply chain, and enhancing the industry's value—turning the 'ecological bounty' hidden in the mountains into 'golden fruits' that enrich the people. Each fragrant chestnut and every fruitful grove is invigorating the vitality of rural industry, steadily broadening farmers' income avenues, and transforming lucid waters and lush mountains into invaluable assets. This paints a picture of Yongde in autumn, rich with fruit aroma, thriving industry, and a flourishing countryside.