As spring gives way to summer, loquat season has arrived in Huangyan district, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, where white-fleshed loquats, also known as Baisha loquats, have hit the market over 20 days earlier than usual thanks to an innovative cultivation method integrating greenhouse and digital technology.

At the loquat orchard of the Huangmaoshan loquat specialized cooperative, 10 mu (0.67 hectares) of greenhouse-grown loquat trees are laden with ripe, round white-fleshed loquats. Workers have been busy harvesting the fruits since around April 20, and the early harvest has led to a surge in orders.

The loquat industry in Huangyan is undergoing a transformation with the adoption of greenhouse technology and digital systems. Farmers can now manage irrigation, spraying, and organic fertilization through their mobile phones.

Ying Zhaohui, head of the specialized cooperative, shared how he made adjustments after receiving a warning call from the intelligent machines. "It warned me that the temperature in the greenhouse was too high, so I used my mobile phone to control the spraying to reduce the temperature."

The advancements in cultivation techniques have given loquats a competitive edge in the market, with current prices hovering around 80 yuan per kilogram. It is anticipated that a large quantity of loquats from the 28,000 mu area in Huangyan will hit the market by mid-May.

Editor: Xu Zhitian