A program on CCTV-1 airing on the evening of Oct 15 focused on the cultivation and industrial development of waxberries in Xianju county, Taizhou, Zhejiang province.

The cultivation of waxberries in Xianju can be traced back over 1,600 years. People back then developed an innovative agricultural model known as the Xianju Ancient Chinese Waxberry Composite System, where waxberries, tea plants, chickens, and bees harmoniously coexist and develop in the mountains.

The system was recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in 2023.

Xianju is currently home to 13,425 ancient waxberry trees that are over a hundred years old and 19 waxberry varieties, including 11 that are endemic to Xianju.

The waxberry, carrying on the legacy of agricultural culture, has also driven economic development in the region.

Technological advancements increase productivity and efficiency. To date, Xianju has established 1,500 mu (100 hectares) of intelligent greenhouses and applied innovative technology to extend the preservation period of fruits to 30 days.

Regional branding enhances the industry's added value. The Xianju Waxberry Festival, which has been held for 27 consecutive years, has expanded the influence of the "Xianju Waxberry" brand.

E-commerce platforms empower the industry to upgrade. Xianju actively promotes live-streaming e-commerce, offering farmers free training on e-commerce marketing to broaden the sales channels for Xianju waxberries.

This year, the waxberry planting area in Xianju has reached 147,000 mu. The total output value of the entire industrial chain amounts to 4.5 billion yuan ($633.04 million), leading to an average income increase of 38,400 yuan per household for farmers.

A shared prosperity industrial chain linked by simple waxberry fruits is gradually taking shape in the county.