On April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou XVIII manned spacecraft was launched from Jiuquan, Gansu. "Zhaoyang Red" apples were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou XVIII, becoming the "fruits for astronauts' space missions." Just as this exciting news was announced, another piece of good news arrived. On May 20, Yang Yi, the president of the China Apple Industry Association, visited Zhaotong Transcendence Agricultural Co., Ltd. for an inspection and research. Accompanied by relevant leaders from the city and district, as well as Wen Lianqing, the company's chairman, he inspected the "Zhaoyang Red Flying - to - Space Apple Planting Base" and delved into the core planting areas of "Zhaoyang Red" apples. He carefully learned about aspects such as planting varieties, cultivation techniques, production management, variety innovation, brand building, and market sales.
Zhaotong Transcendence Agricultural Co., Ltd. has established demonstration bases for dwarf - rootstock and high - density apple planting in Yongfeng Town, Buga Township, and Shouwang Township of Zhaoyang District, covering an area of 100,000 mu. It has created the "Zhaoyang Red" brand with regional characteristics, determined the category positioning of "diverse apples", built the "Zhaoyang Red Cold - chain Logistics Park" with a storage capacity of 40,000 tons for apples, founded the "Zhaoyang Red" Apple Research Institute, selected over 130 apple varieties from around the world, established a 300 - mu variety demonstration garden, and improved the apple variety resource database, leading the development of Zhaotong's modern apple industry.
Yang Yi, the president of the China Apple Industry Association, observed the apple exhibits and gained an in - depth understanding of the current development of the "Zhaoyang Red" apple industry. He highly commended the company for adopting six core technologies, including the "orchard bee - pollination technology, plant protection monitoring system, biological control system, fruit tree load management, orchard mechanized management, and integrated water - fertilizer drip - irrigation system", implementing the "seven - unification standards", namely "unified virus - free seedlings, unified planting standards, unified harvesting standards, unified storage conditions, unified factory - exit standards, unified cold - chain distribution, and unified brand sales", and applying eight core techniques: ①selection of dwarfing rootstocks and high - quality varieties; ②mechanized orchard management; ③integrated water - fertilizer drip - irrigation technology system; ④orchard grass - growing mode; ⑤scientific tree - shape management system; ⑥rational fruit - tree load management; ⑦plant protection monitoring system; ⑧biological control system.After tasting apples of the same variety as those consumed by astronauts on the space station, President Yang Yi highly praised the feat of "Zhaoyang Red" apples being sent into space and becoming the supply fruits for the space station. He sincerely congratulated the "Zhaoyang Red" apples on achieving the title of "Flying - to - Space Apples". At the same time, President Yang Yi also commended the company for establishing an interest - linking mechanism with farmers, which helps the masses achieve sustainable and stable income growth.
President Yang Yi affirmed the achievements made by the company in the development of the apple industry. He put forward targeted suggestions and opinions regarding the innovative development of "Zhaoyang Red" apples, such as increasing investment in science and technology, researching and developing new varieties, strengthening brand promotion, and expanding sales channels. He expressed the hope that the company would enhance communication and cooperation within the industry. Through resource sharing and complementary advantages, they could jointly promote the healthy development of China's apple industry.
This inspection and research marks the second time that Yang Yi, the president of the China Apple Industry Association, has visited Zhaotong Transcendence Agricultural Co., Ltd. since October 2023. It indicates that the company wields a relatively prominent influence and driving force in the development of the national apple industry. Moreover, it conveys a positive signal that the China Apple Industry Association will continue to pay attention to and support the development of the apple industry in Zhaotong.The company will adhere to the development path of being scientific, standardized, and branded. By taking multiple measures such as variety innovation, technological innovation, brand innovation, and quality innovation, it aims to stimulate market vitality and strengthen the brand of "Zhaoyang Red" apples.
