Yunnan Yangbi Walnut Festival hopes to turn Yangbi walnut into world-famous brand

Yang Yu, secretary of the CPC Yangbi County Committe, address the ceremony. (Xue Dan/People's Daily Online)

It's now the golden month of September, which for many people across China means one thing - walnut harvesting. On the morning of Sept. 1, people from Yangbi county gathered together in ceremonial dresses in Renhe square, to celebrate the opening of the 2018 Yangbi Walnut Festival of Dali.

Guests and leaders including Ren Zhizhong, director of the forestry department of Yunnan province, Wang Weibin, director of the Academy of Forestry Science of Yunnan province, and Yuan Lijuan, deputy secretary of Dali prefecture. Yang Yu, secretary of the CPC Yangbi County Committe, delivered a speech while Ren Zhizhong declared the festival open.

According to Yu, the walnut planting area in Yangbi county has now reached 1.07 million mu in size, with a production volume of nearly 50,000 tons and an overall value of about 1 billion yuan. More than 70 percent of the people in Yangbi have risen above the poverty line thanks to the walnut industry, which has become the largest green health industry in the area with the most extensive coverage.

Yang said by adhering to the development idea of “1234”, Yangbi’s economy has become sustainable by way of filling shortcomings, improving weaknesses, promoting poverty reduction, and building a prosperous living society.

Performance at the ceremony. (Xue Dan/People's Daily Online)

“We will work on the building of an influential walnut production and sales base, to turn the walnut industry into a pillar industry for the county and people. We will spare no efforts turning the Yangbi walnut into a famous brand on a provincial, national and global level. We will make Yangbi a healthy living destination, accelerating the process of rural revitalization strategy, and boost poverty reduction efforts, thus bringing Yangbi people a happier life together," Yang Yu concluded.

Yangbi is located in the middle of Dali Prefecture, Yunnan province. It enjoys a perfect growing environment for walnuts, positioned on the western border of Cang Mountain with a moderate climate, strong soil water retention ability, and abundant sunshine.

Walnuts in Yangbi are famous for their large fruit, thin shell, white kernel, and sweet taste. Yangbi was awarded the title “town of the Chinese walnut” by the Development Research Center of the State Council, among many other awards, and the county has successfully registered the geographical indication trademark of “Yangbi Walnut.”

In 2018, Yangbi Walnut Festival will last for a month. During the festival, a series of activities will take place, such as local product exhibitions and tastings, the financing and media platform launching ceremony, a listing ceremony for the “Walnut Product Quality Test Center of Yunnan Provincial,” a walnut appreciation ceremony and picking ceremony.