Cixi waxberries. [Photo/IC]

A once highly perishable summer fruit is becoming a powerful driver of rural prosperity in Cixi, a county-level city in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, as technology, e-commerce, and tourism reshape the local waxberry industry.

During China's annual two sessions, Qian Haijun, a deputy to the National People's Congress and community manager at the customer service center of State Grid Zhejiang Cixi Power Supply Company, spoke proudly of the fruit from his hometown. "This sweet-and-tangy Cixi waxberry is not only a favorite summer treat, but also a 'golden fruit' bringing prosperity to local people," he said.

The fruit's short harvest season and limited shelf life once made it difficult for farmers to secure a stable income. In response, Cixi built a full industry chain integrating cultivation, processing, online sales and rural tourism.

Qi Junyang, a young entrepreneur who heads the Qiyuan Waxberry Cooperative and serves as representative inheritor of traditional waxberry processing techniques, has witnessed the transformation firsthand.

Technology has played a crucial role. Digital greenhouses, automated temperature and humidity monitoring systems, and drones are now widely used in orchards, reducing inspection times by more than 60 percent and tripling transport efficiency. Newly built smart greenhouses also allow waxberries to reach the market 15 to 20 days earlier than before.

Online sales have further expanded the market. The cooperative works with university e-commerce teams to run livestream promotions, drawing thousands of viewers daily during harvest season and helping small growers sell their fruit more easily.

Beyond fresh fruit, new products such as waxberry tea, fruit beverages, pastries, and wine have extended the industry's value chain. Meanwhile, picking tours, local cuisine and rural homestays are attracting visitors, turning orchards into tourist destinations and bringing additional income into village communities.