Taizhou launches waxberry season event with industry upgrades

An aerial view of Xianju county. [Photo provided to Tide News]

The 2026 Zhejiang Agricultural Specialty Products: Xianju Waxberry Season series of events opened in Xianju county, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 5, bringing together industry experts, business representatives, and e-commerce platforms to discuss production upgrades and market expansion for the local fruit industry.

Known as the "home of the Chinese waxberry", Xianju had more than 10,000 hectares of related plantations by the end of last year, with an annual output of 124,000 metric tons.

The fresh fruit sector generated 1.3 billion yuan ($191.9 million) in output value, while the full industrial chain exceeded 4.8 billion yuan. The industry has become the county's most widespread and income-generating agricultural sector, raising average annual income for growers by about 40,000 yuan per household.

At the event, new agricultural technologies such as smart logistics systems for fresh waxberries and recent research achievements were showcased. The event also released new policy measures to support industrial development and announced e-commerce cooperation plans for the waxberry season. Several strategic partnerships were signed, along with initiatives promoting industry standards and consumer campaigns.

Yang Huanlin, general manager of Zhejiang Xianxiang Agricultural Development, said export demand is growing, with orders up 50 percent year-on-year. New overseas markets, including Malaysia and several European and North American countries, have emerged as buyers, showing increased interest in imports.

Beyond fresh fruit, the event also showcased processed products such as waxberry wine, pastries, and dried goods, reflecting the ongoing expansion into deeper processing and product diversification.