Apples exhibited at The 2nd Pingliang Apple Expo on Oct 12. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Pingliang city's government attracted 1.53 billion yuan ($240 million) of investments in 23 apple contracts at The 2nd Pingliang Apple Expo on Oct 12.

The city inked contracts on fruit production, storage, logistics and processing with domestic enterprises such as Bohai Commodity Exchange. Some 65 sales orders were also reached, according to which 146,000 tons of Pingliang fruit will be sold for 940 million yuan this year.

Located in Northwest China's Gansu province, Pingliang is a major apple producer. More than 200 enterprises engaged in storage, processing, transportation and sales have gotten support from the local government. Local enterprises are capable of processing 300,000 tons of fruit.

The city has 162,000 hectares of apple land and more than 100 picking gardens for tourists.

A staff member introduces Pinglaing apples to the visitors at the apple expo in Pingliang, Gansu province, on Oct 12. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Pingliang is also using marketing strategy. The city has 13 markets for fruit exhibitions, e-commerce and wholesale. More than 100 Pingliang apple outlets are scattered around the country, and Pingliang farmers have reached deals with several large retail chains such as?Walmart and Carrefour.

Apples produced in Pingliang also sell well in Europe, the United States, Russia and Southeast Asia, with $25 million of foreign exchange annually.

Edited by Andrew Ancheta