KUNMING: With the residents’ growing demand for a healthy lifestyle, avocados, also a new celebrity fruit in China, have become a beloved indulgence among the urbanites, especially those dedicated to fitness.
Avocados thrive in full sunlight and moderate temperatures, and are rich in protein and unsaturated fats, earning them the nickname “forest butter.” However, in the past, avocados sold in China were mainly imported from other countries.
Little known to the general public, the Dai-Lahu-Va Autonomous County of Menglian, Pu’er City of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, now boasts large expanses of avocado cultivation. It is projected that over 10,000 tonnes of avocado fresh fruits will be harvested in the county this year, with a total estimated earnings exceeding 300 million yuan (about 42 million U.S. dollars).
Furthermore, this burgeoning agricultural endeavor benefits each of the participating local households with an average annual income increase of more than 3,000 yuan.
For the Lahu ethnic community residing in Menglian, there was no such word as “avocado” in their ethnic language. They didn’t expect that a thing that didn’t exist in their own language has now become their cash cow. “We are located in the same golden latitude as Mexico, which is known as the ‘avocado capital of the world.’ Our county enjoys over 2,100 hours of sunshine per year and an average annual rainfall of more than 1,300 mm,” said Han Bo, the county’s deputy head. “With lush greenery all year round and a healthy ecological environment, we are one of the few areas in China capable of producing high-quality avocados on a large scale.” –Agencies
