For thousands of years, green plums have been deeply rooted in Chinese culture, with records of their consumption stretching back at least 3,000 years.

Today, this ancient fruit is driving modern rural vitalization, particularly in Wuhu, Anhui.

The city's Fanchang district has strategically positioned the green plum industry as a pillar for rural vitalization. The district government allocates special funds yearly to encourage farmers to expand green plum orchards.

By 2024, these subsidies had surpassed 17 million yuan ($2.3 million). This sustained support has yielded significant results. Fanchang's green plum cultivation now covers about 1,400 hectares.

Central to Fanchang's rural vitalization is Liuliu Orchard Group, a leading enterprise founded in the district in 2009. The company operates across the entire green plum value chain – from research and farming to processing and sales.

The company now promotes green plum cultivation across eight major production regions nationwide.

Its efforts support over 20,000 hectares of orchards, generating a total industry value nearing 20 billion yuan and significantly boosting farmers' incomes.

Looking ahead, the company has set ambitious goals.

"Our target is to expand cultivation by 1 million mu across 10,000 villages in eight provinces in East, South, and Southwest China," said Yang Fan, founder of the company.

"This initiative aims to support 1 million farming households, introduce Chinese green plums to 100 million people, and propel the entire industry chain value towards 100 billion yuan," Yang added.

From its ancient origins to its modern role in powering rural economies, green plum, nurtured by supportive policies and innovative enterprises like Liuliu Orchard Group, is blossoming into a symbol of sustainable growth and prosperity across Chinese rural areas.

Pan Shaokang contributed to this story.