Chinese hickory harvest begins in Anji

Chinese hickory nuts hang from a tree in Anji's Yaocun village. [Photo/WeChat account: anjifb]

The Chinese hickory (Carya cathayensis) harvest has begun in Yaocun village, Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, with villagers picking fresh nuts until mid-September.

This year's Chinese hickory nuts in Yaocun have improved in quality, having benefited from sufficient rainfall, suitable sunlight, and the mild mountain climate during the key growth period, with plumper nuts, fewer empty shells, and fresher, more fragrant kernels.

The improved quality has attracted buyers from various places. Purchases at designated points and directly from growers have been smooth. Buyer Zhang Wei said the nuts are natural and reliable, with many repeat customers. Buyers came early this year because of the better quality, he said, adding that they were confident about sales.

Chinese hickory is a distinctive crop in Yaocun and an important source of income for villagers, said Shao Gang, the village's Party secretary. The village will continue to provide support for harvesting, sales, and related services.

Anji county has about 1,200 hectares of Chinese hickory this year, with trees showing healthy overall growth. Output is expected to exceed 500 metric tons, with fresh Anji hickory nuts gradually entering the market.