Changshan, Zhejiang: e-commerce "against the current" to grow pomelo

On the morning of June 1, in a pomelo forest in Shuinan Village, Qingshi Town, Changshan County, Wang Xin, head of Changshan Myka Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd., was conscientiously learning the technique of thinning branches of pomelo, while Peng Guofang, the "master" specially invited, won the title of "Shaddock King" for many times in the county.

This year, Wang Xin transferred more than 100 mu of pomelo forest and decided to learn the cultivation techniques of pomelo from scratch.

In fact, this is Wang Xin's third "U-turn" in more than two years. Wang Xin, who was born in 1983, went to Suzhou at the age of 18 to open his own computer sales store and online store. In 2014, he returned to his hometown to start a business, set up "Myka" company, and opened Changshan Hu pomelo flagship store on the "Tmall" platform.

Compared with ordinary online stores, "Tmall" means higher costs and stricter supervision, and that's what Wang Xin likes, he said. Hu pomelo should go to the high-end market. In that year, his online store sold 75000 kilograms of pomelo, with sales exceeding 200000 yuan.

Seeing the booming sales of pomelo, Wang Xin said it could have been better. It was the quality of pomelo that "stuck in the neck". "it's not that you can't sell it, it's that you don't dare to sell it, you can't sell it, for fear of smashing the brand." Wang Xin's pomelo is mostly from surrounding farmers, the quality is uneven, often can not get a good pomelo by raising the purchase price. This gave Wang Xin the idea of growing his own pomelo.

In 2015, Wang Xin received 80 mu of pomelo base from a large grower in the county. But for growing pomelo, Wang Xin is a real "rookie". In addition, he is busy building a warehouse and cold storage for the online store, so he invited an old pomelo farmer named Li Chongming to help manage it.

Base transfer fees, infrastructure investment and management fees totaled more than 500,000 yuan, and Wang Xin almost threw in all his savings over the years. But the results are equally gratifying. Last year, the base harvested 150000 kilograms of pomelo, all of which were sold out through online stores. They sold out in March this year, with sales exceeding 500000 yuan.

If you taste the sweetness, you will also gain confidence. Just after the Spring Festival this year, Wang Xin has transferred 100 mu of pomelo forest. This time he is no longer a "shopkeeper", but plans to transform into a new type of pomelo farmer. "after thinning branches, weed and fertilize immediately, and then check the condition of grapefruit trees to eliminate old and diseased trees." After a period of study, Wang Xin has been able to make a short-term plan for the pomelo garden.

Because of the relationship of opening an online store, Wang Xinneng communicated directly with many consumers. According to the market demand, he began to try the supply-side reform of pomelo. "Today, people's demand for fruit is not limited to the taste, but also to health and ecology." Wang Xin said that he plans to introduce Taiwan's "Baiken" technology into his pomelo garden, use biotechnology to improve soil and control diseases and insect pests, and use microorganisms to replace some chemical fertilizers and pesticides, so as to improve quality and reduce residues at the same time.