The serendipitous encounter between pineapple and Buddhism lies just outside Mituo Mountain Temple in Gukeng.

Editor's note: Pineapple grower Zeng Jianxun cultivates pineapples using natural farming methods. Unfortunately, the land that had previously been agreed upon was suddenly taken back, and about 3,000 pineapples have ripened this season, waiting for like-minded friends to support him. Contact information for the farmer is at the end of the article.

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Early in the morning, my friend and I drove to the mountain hollow of Mituo Mountain Temple in Gukeng to look for the pineapple field that my friend had described as completely pesticide-free. As the car passed over the top of the slope, we looked down and saw someone waving to us from the hollow. Once we confirmed it was the right place, the car that had already slid down the slope turned around and drove back up to the top. We took a few photos from the high vantage point. The pineapple grower, Zeng Jianxun, waved for us to come down. The mountain road was wet and slippery after yesterday afternoon's thunderstorm. When we reached the hollow, the pineapple grower put down his work and came over to chat with us.

I was curious how the pineapple grower, who lives in Dounan, ended up growing pineapples in this mountain hollow, and I was even more eager to taste the so-called vine-ripened pineapple. The grower casually picked up a freshly harvested pineapple and peeled off the skin with a sickle. He cut off a large chunk of the golden, juicy flesh with the sickle and held it out in front of me. The sweet, fragrant pineapple flavor satisfied my taste buds. The grower then began to tell his story:

Land Suddenly Taken Back, Harvest Awaits Kindred Spirits

The temple then informed him that the land would be taken back after this season's pineapples were harvested. He had originally trusted the practitioner's verbal promise of five years and had not signed anything in writing. After investing a year, he was now facing the prospect of having to leave. Fortunately, the pineapple plants cultivated over this year are healthy and vigorous, and will be harvested and replanted on the family's ancestral land in Dounan.

With no experience in large-scale planting at all, relying solely on the farming philosophy of following natural laws, he looks at the 3,000 pineapples that have been ripening one after another and worries: where are the customers who love naturally, healthily grown fruit?

Pineapples do not keep well. If you care for the land, value environmental protection, and identify with natural farming, your heartfelt purchase will give this land a new source of sustaining strength. Interested friends can call Zeng Jianxun directly at 0912515462.