Dragon fruit is also known as pitahaya. [Photo/Tide News]

At the Wengweng Family Farm in Qujiang district, Quzhou, the first batch of 30,000 kilograms of dragon fruit for the year 2024 has ripened and is now being harvested.

The farm is adorned with rows of cactus-like plants, from which the golden dragon fruits dangle. Despite its high price, earning it the nickname "the fruit of the nobles," dragon fruit's pure taste and high quality continue to attract many consumers.

In 2019, Weng Youliang, owner of the farm, introduced dragon fruit seedlings to Quzhou for trial cultivation. Initially, due to significant environmental differences from its tropical native habitat, the yield was disappointing. Determined to overcome this challenge, Weng consulted experts and assembled a team, eventually solving the fruiting issue by grafting dragon fruit onto other plants.

While open-air cultivation is common in regions like Yunnan and Hainan, Weng opted for greenhouse cultivation, a technique that has since been patented.

"After years of exploration, we have managed to achieve year-round harvesting of dragon fruit," Weng shared. This year, the farm expects a yield of approximately 180,000 to 200,000 kg.

Looking ahead, Weng's goal is to develop dragon fruit into a signature agricultural product of Zhejiang, transforming it into a "wealth-generating fruit" for the locals.