Wenzhou launches a yellow croaker-themed feast on Sept 28. [Photo/The official news website of Wenzhou]
Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, launched a yellow croaker-themed feast on Sept 28 to celebrate this iconic dish.
Here, yellow croaker is more than food; it's a thriving industry, with the city producing 23,000 metric tons in 2025 and generating 1.9 billion yuan ($283.27 million) in output value.
Thanks to Wenzhou's ideal conditions and standardized farming, yellow croaker is a highlight at weddings and banquets, and has even appeared at the G20 Summit and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
To further its reputation, Wenzhou released the Wenzhou Yellow Croaker (Yellow Croaker Feast) Cooking Standard, including six cold dishes and 10 hot dishes, covering everything from ingredient selection to presentation.
Ye Zhiyong, a technical advisor for the Wenzhou Yellow Croaker Industry Association, said the standard preserves traditional recipes while allowing innovation, so that chefs can create new dishes, such as those combining seasonal ingredients.
Wenzhou is also expanding the croaker's market reach, holding a promotional event on Sept 17 in Beijing that secured nearly 70 million yuan in contracts for national expansion.
This yellow croaker feast aims to enhance the brand, with plans for cooking exchanges, skill training, and culinary competitions.
