Waxberries grown in Bulu township in Xianju county, Taizhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, recently announced the initial selection of national agricultural strong towns, which included Bulu township in Xianju county, Taizhou, Zhejiang province.

Bulu is renowned for its cultivation of waxberries, which has led to the establishment of a comprehensive industrial chain encompassing the planting, processing, and sale of the fruit in the township.

To support the development of the waxberry industry, the local government has constructed various facilities, including a waxberry science and education institute, a high-quality cultivation base, a leisure agricultural sightseeing park, and an agricultural product trading market.

In 2023, Bulu township recorded an annual waxberry output of 13,500 metric tons, with a total value of 130 million yuan ($17.89 million). This marks an 11 percent increase from the previous year. The township is home to three waxberry enterprises and 105 waxberry cooperatives engaging in deep processing, fresh fruit sales, packaging, and other related fields. As a result, the per capita annual income derived solely from the waxberry industry has reached 10,800 yuan.