Guoyue Wentan Pomelo Wins Gold Award at Forest Expo in One Stroke
"What is this? Is it a local pomelo?" "This pomelo is still green, why is it already being sold?" "Wow, this one is so small yet quite heavy!" ... Recently, the 9th China Yiwu International Forest Products Fair was held in Yiwu, and the Wucheng District Wu Hongsheng Family Farm also took part in the exhibition. Farm owner Wu Hongsheng told reporters that the product taken to the exhibition this time was the farm's flagship product, the "Guoyue" Wentan pomelo, which won the honor of a gold award at the Forest Expo. A few days ago, reporters visited the "Guoyue" Wentan pomelo planting base for an interview.
Wentan is a superior variety of pomelo, and the "Guoyue" Wentan is the cream of the crop among them. As a premium variety, the "Guoyue" Wentan is sweeter, juicier and tastier than other Wentan pomelos. Wu Hongsheng told reporters that the Wentan pomelo is a treasure from head to toe. While the pomelo is delicious, the peeled rind can be cut with a knife into two layers: the greenish-yellow outer layer is best cut into thin strips, dried in the sun and brewed as a drink, which can clear phlegm and moisten the lungs, aid digestion and strengthen the stomach, invigorate the blood and brighten the eyes, and prevent the "three highs"; the white cotton-like inner layer of the rind can be made into fine dishes, such as garlic-scented Wentan rind and stir-fried pork slices with Wentan rind, and so on. In addition, the fragrance of the Wentan rind also has such wonderful uses as repelling mosquitoes and removing odors.
Most consumers go to the market to buy pomelos, and for good taste they want to buy red-fleshed or imported ones. In fact, this is a misconception. Old Wu explained that when choosing a pomelo, one should pick one with smooth skin, choose the heavier one among those of the same size, and pick one shaped like a roly-poly toy; it is not that imported ones are necessarily the best. "Although our local Wentan pomelos are not large and have white pulp, every one of them is sweet and tart and full of juice, which is why they could win the gold award at the Forest Expo." Old Wu said with a chuckle, looking very proud. "Standing out from more than 3,600 products sent to the exhibition is an affirmation of our family's fruit. In addition, the 'Guoyue' Wentan pomelo was rated first prize at the Agricultural Trade Fair of six provinces and one city in East China, and is a nationally certified green pollution-free food."
It is understood that Old Wu began to work in the planting industry in 1995. He initially contracted 80 mu of land to grow seedlings. After gradually deepening his understanding of this line of work, he brought in a batch of Wentan pomelo seedlings 70-80 cm tall. Under the careful care of the whole family, this batch of Wentan pomelos soon ushered in a small harvest. After that, Old Wu gradually increased his Wentan pomelo planting.
Just like this, step by step, Old Wu's family steadily planted Wentan pomelos, expanding from the original 80 mu to the current 150 mu. Today, of these 150 mu, more than 30 mu have reached full production, with an output of more than 20,000 jin per mu. More than 20 years of persistence have taken the "Guoyue" Wentan pomelo from being accepted to selling well. Old Wu said he will keep working harder: "Wentan pomelos need flower transfer and pollination and continuous grafting to produce sweet fruit, and the planting environment also needs to be improved. Seasonal adjustment, manual pest removal and other techniques must also keep pace with the times. Wentan pomelo planting is a conscience industry. Look, I even built a testing room myself. The fruit must pass sample testing before it is sent to market. Green and pollution-free is not just talk; it is something every customer who comes to pick fruit can see for themselves."