Li Jinhui: Letting Hometown People Eat Pollution-Free Food
When it comes to starting a business, many people may think of emerging industries like WeChat business and e-commerce. However, Li Jinhui, 33 years old this year, is willing to return to the countryside and run a fruit orchard. He believes that food safety is a matter of widespread concern, and providing pollution-free ingredients for his hometown is what he considers the true meaning of starting a business.
Now, his pick-your-own orchard business is booming. His next plan is to grow vegetables and establish convenience stores in various residential communities in the city area, specifically selling pollution-free vegetables and fruits.
Li Jinhui is picking grapes
The grapes in the greenhouse are already hanging all over the branches
In early summer, greenhouse grapes hang all over the branches
On June 28, the reporter arrived at "Harvest Orchard" located south of the highway entrance in Shijiuoli Town, Qiaocheng District. According to orchard manager Li Jinhui, the greenhouse grapes grown here could already be picked after the Dragon Boat Festival.
Following Li Jinhui's guidance, the reporter entered the vineyard. Under the sunlight, the grapes on the trellises looked crystal clear. "The grapes in this greenhouse are called 'Summer Black'. They are ripe now. For this variety, the darker the color, the better," Li Jinhui introduced. Summer Black grapes originated in Japan, are a descendant of Kyoho, and are an early-maturing European-American variety. "'Summer Black' tastes sweet and delicious, with a slight tartness. The skin is tight and clings to the flesh, so you can eat it without peeling. It is one of the most delicious grape varieties on the Chinese market." As he spoke, he picked a bunch of "Summer Black" and invited nearby residents who had come to pick grapes to taste it.
The reporter learned that in this ecological orchard of about 200 mu, six or seven grape varieties are grown, including "Shine Muscat", "Drunken Golden Fragrance", and "Golden Finger". Li Jinhui said each mu can generate an income of 10,000 yuan.
The original intention of starting the business was simply a love for the yellow earth
Li Jinhui, 33 years old this year, is from Chengfu Town, Qiaocheng District. Having grown up in the countryside since childhood, he has deep feelings for the yellow earth. In 2008, after graduating from university, he had always wanted to work in agriculture-related work, but at that time he did not have much money on hand, so he first went into the Chinese medicinal herbs and elevator businesses.
His old classmate Yang Dawei also wanted to pursue a career in agriculture, so the two discussed that once they made money, they would run a pick-your-own orchard. About 3 years ago, they began starting "Harvest Orchard". With the support of the local government department, they rented more than 200 mu of land, initially growing strawberries. "Growing grapes this year is our first year, and the current economic benefits remain to be seen. The strawberries we planted before had quite considerable returns," Li Jinhui said.
It is understood that the strawberry picking season lasts from the beginning of the year to April, while grapes can last from around the Dragon Boat Festival all the way to the end of the year in November. "In another half month, the 'Drunken Golden Fragrance' variety will ripen and be ready for picking," Li Jinhui introduced. In stark contrast to the color of "Summer Black", "Drunken Golden Fragrance" is a green variety. When ripe, the more transparent the color, the better its growth.
Future wish: to provide residents with pollution-free food
During the interview, the reporter saw that some greenhouse management personnel were holding tools to fertilize and prune the grapevines. One worker said that at this time of year, although some greenhouse grapes are already ready for picking, management work still cannot stop. Watering, weeding, and fertilizing remain important tasks.
They said that in the early days of establishing the orchard, because many people did not understand agriculture or management knowledge, they often relied too much on technicians. Later, Li Jinhui realized that they could not depend on technicians for everything and that their own people needed to learn the technology. To this end, they specially organized training to learn relevant agricultural knowledge.
As for future plans, Li Jinhui told the reporter that while cultivating fruits, they will gradually grow pollution-free vegetables in the future. "Now food safety is a issue of common concern to everyone. As a fruit supplier now, my greatest wish is to provide pollution-free fruits and vegetables for everyone." He said that according to his own wishful plan, he also hopes to establish a convenience store in every residential community in the future, specifically selling pollution-free food he produces himself.