Eggplants grow in Longquan, Lishui. [Photo/WeChat account: lqgovwx]

"Shengyou Eggplant" from Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province, has been included in the first batch of 2026 national "special-quality agricultural products" by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. It is the only agricultural product from Lishui to make the list.

Longquan is known for its extensive forest coverage and pristine ecosystem. The core eggplant-growing area lies 400 to 600 meters above sea level, where the daily temperature difference can reach up to 15 C.

These conditions give the eggplants a distinctive flavor and higher quality compared with ordinary lowland varieties. Longquan eggplants have been included in the national list of famous, special, and high-quality agricultural products, as well as the provincial top 100 local specialties.

To maintain its reputation, Longquan has adopted a standardized production model with unified seedlings, technology, branding, packaging, grading, and sales, all combined with household-based management.

It has also established an industrial chain guarantee system, creating a mature development model of "standard guidance, brand empowerment, and insurance support".

Currently, the eggplant planting area in Longquan exceeds 8,000 mu (533.33 hectares), providing jobs for over 4,000 people and helping left-behind villagers and elderly workers increase their income. The industry also supports low-income households through targeted assistance.

A local agricultural official said that this national recognition affirms the quality and ecological planting model of Longquan's mountain specialty vegetables. Next steps will focus on brand promotion, quality improvement, and safety supervision to further expand the industry.