Camellia oleifera trees become the money tree for Machexia villagers

On December 8, Chen Senlin, a villager from Machexia Village in Xinsuo Town, had just brought 60 kg of fresh camellia oil home from the town's oil pressing mill when a Hangzhou merchant who had been waiting for some time bought it at 40 yuan per kg. Just like Chen Senlin's family, it is common to see camellia oil snapped up by merchants as soon as it is pressed.

Machexia Village is 6 km from the seat of the Xinsuo Town government, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with fresh, clean air and a year-round temperature 3—5 degrees lower than that of the county seat. Relying on these uniquely favorable natural ecological conditions, local villagers planted high-quality camellia oleifera trees on the barren hills, and through scientific management, the camellia trees bear abundant fruit every year. Camellia fruit is generally picked within 5 days after Frost's Descent, and the camellia seeds can be pressed for oil after the shells are removed and the seeds are dried, with an oil yield as high as 27%. As people's quality of life and health concepts continue to improve, green, ecological camellia oil has become a hot commodity among urban residents. This year, the village had a bumper harvest of camellia seeds, with a total output of about 25 tons and very considerable economic benefits, and the camellia trees covering the mountains have truly become the money tree of the local villagers.