Farmers are busy harvesting gorgon fruit in a water field of Shenyu village, Gugao town, Jiangyan district. [Photo/WeChat account: jyrmzf]
Farmers are busy collecting the season's first batch of gorgon fruit, known locally as jitoumi, in the water fields of Shenyu village, Gugao town, Jiangyan district.
Gorgon fruit has long held an important place in traditional Chinese medicine. It is valued for tonifying the kidneys, securing essence, strengthening the spleen and helping stop diarrhea and abnormal vaginal discharge.
Modern analysis also shows it is rich in carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus and iron, making it popular for nourishing soups and congee to the same degree as in the pharmacopoeia.
Shenyu village has expanded its planting field for gorgon fruit to close to 80 mu (about 5.3 hectares). This year, the village has switched to an improved variety called "Pineapple Yellow", prized for its fuller, plumper seeds and growers pick the crop six to seven times throughout the year as a general practice. Overall growth this year has been strong, and local farmers are expecting another bumper harvest.