The 7th Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival is set to take place on Sept 22, coinciding with the autumn equinox. This year's main Guangdong province event is anticipated to be held in Huazhou, Maoming.

Maoming has consistently achieved an agricultural output value exceeding 100 billion yuan ($14.14 billion) for four consecutive years. The total output value of agriculture, forestry, farming, and fishery in the first half of 2024 reached 55.42 billion yuan. Vegetable production reached 2.2 million tons with a 3.6 percent increase, while aquatic products totaled 482,800 metric tons, up 3.5 percent.

Exocarpium Citri Grandis, a local specialty, has been officially listed as a food-medicine homologous substance. With an area exceeding 8,666.7 hectares, Exocarpium Citri Grandis's annual fresh fruit production is 62,000 tons, and dried fruit production is 12,000 tons. The product is exported to over 30 countries and regions, with the entire industry chain valued at 10.2 billion yuan in 2023.

Litchi prices have increased by over 40 percent, with early-maturing varieties like "Sanyuehong" and "Xiangmili" fetching an average price of 20 yuan per kilogram. Mid-maturing varieties like "Baitangying" average of 22 yuan per kilogram, and late-maturing litchis average 70 yuan per kilogram.

Longan purchase prices have risen with an expected production exceeding 600,000 tons, a growth of over 15 percent. Early-maturing off-season longans are priced at an average 30 yuan per kilogram, mid-maturing Shixia longans at 14-16 yuan per kilogram, and late-maturing Chuliang longans at 18-24 yuan per kilogram. Sanhua plum's price increases with large fruits priced at 30-40 yuan per kilogram, medium fruits at 14-20 yuan per kilogram, and small fruits at 6-8 yuan per kilogram.

Maoming's specialty Exocarpium Citri Grandis. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]