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Long known for its breathtaking landscapes and ethnic diversity, Southwest China's Yunnan province is emerging as a national leader in specialty agriculture, transforming its once-impoverished rural regions into engines of economic renewal.

From sweet apples in Zhaotong to traditional cured meats in Xuanwei and leafy vegetables in Luliang, the highlands are cultivating not only crops, but also opportunities for the 88 counties in the province that have been lifted out of poverty.

Fruitful harvest

Perched on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and located in the heartland of the Wumeng Mountains in the northeast of the province, Zhaotong was once a city with the largest impoverished population in China.

Now, it is Southwest China's largest producer of apples thanks to its low latitude, high elevation, generous sunshine and dramatic daily temperature swings. These ideal growing conditions have made Zhaotong's apples sweet, crisp and nationally recognized.

With nearly 66,700 hectares under cultivation, Zhaotong harvested 1.3 million metric tons of apples last year, generating a revenue of 15 billion yuan ($2.07 billion). The apple industry has directly benefited 138,000 households, touching the lives of over half a million residents, according to local officials.

In April of last year, apples from Zhaotong made headlines when they were included in the fresh food supply aboard the Shenzhou XVIII spacecraft.

A major individual orchard in Zhaotong's Zhaoyang district covers 6,670 hectares with 118 apple varieties, one of the largest of its kind. Yang Longjiang, director of the district's industry development center, said advanced agricultural techniques learned from New Zealand and elsewhere are yielding world-class results.

"The orchard applies dwarf root-stocks that yield fruit faster and uses an integrated drip irrigation system that can precisely deliver water and fertilizer, conserving precious resources," Yang said.

"Combined with monthly wages from working at the base, we can earn 80,000 yuan a year and live a better life," said Ding Kaiwen, a former tobacco farmer who works in the orchards with his wife. Their family also receives an annual land lease payment of 14,400 yuan.

The district's agricultural officials report that formerly impoverished households have seen average income increases of 4,800 yuan thanks to the apple boom.

Branding has also played a crucial role in the success of the local apple industry. The Zhaoyang Red, one of the region's signature apple brands, has earned 93 green food and multiple organic certifications, paving the way for exports to the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and beyond.

Premium supermarket chains such as Sam's Club and Freshippo stock Zhaotong apples, selling at 8 to 14 yuan per kilogram. Orchard tourism and fruit-picking festivals have also emerged to breathe new life into local economies.