[Source: Xi'an News] "This year's citron production is very gratifying. They are large and thick, and the purchase price of fresh fruits has reached 2.6 yuan per kilogram." Chen Ping, a villager in Fenghuang Village, Xixiang County, said with a smile, "Especially after drying The

"This year's citron production is very gratifying. They are large and thick, and the purchase price of fresh fruits has reached 2.6 yuan per kilogram." Chen Ping, a villager in Fenghuang Village, Xixiang County, said with a smile, "Especially the dried citron slices. The price has even risen to 20 yuan per kilogram, which makes our farmers’ income more stable and considerable.”

In Fenghuang Village, Li Tingquan’s drying factory is busy producing dried citron flakes. "The bosses come directly to our homes to purchase, so we don't have to worry about transportation." Li Tingquan said. His drying plant can process more than 500 kilograms of fresh citron at a time. This alone can bring him more than 100,000 yuan in income in a year.

In recent days, in Yanghe, Liushu, Bailongtang and other towns in Xixiang County, citron trees have been hanging all over the mountains and plains, becoming a beautiful scenery. These green fruits not only decorate the countryside, but also bring tangible economic benefits to local villagers.

It is understood that Xixiang County has developed a citron planting area of ​​more than 20,000 acres, with an annual output of about 600 tons of fresh citron. Through the understory intercropping model of "citron + tea garden" and "citron + konjac", the villagers have successfully achieved effective utilization of resources and increased income.

In addition to traditional sales methods, villagers have also actively developed a variety of products using citron as raw materials, such as citron wine, tea, incense and beverages. These products make full use of citron's "medicine and food origin" characteristics, further extending the industrial chain and increasing the added value of the products.

With the continuous development of the citron industry, it not only drives local economic growth, but also contributes to ecological and environmental protection, achieving a win-win situation of economic and ecological benefits. The small citron has truly become a "money tree" and "getting rich" tree", allowing this "green cash machine" to bring more benefits to the villagers.

Text/Picture Xi'an newspaper all-media reporter Hu Yi correspondent Hu Fajie