'Avocado town' ripens prospects for tourism, agricultural success

Local specialty

"For us locals, avocados are a common food," said Zha Ke, a 36-year-old farmer from Menglian.

"Even the elderly eat them regularly now, and young women use avocados from their own trees to make face masks. During festivals and family visits, we always serve avocados to our guests. When we visit friends, we bring avocados as gifts."

In Menglian, avocados are enjoyed in a variety of ways beyond the typical avocado milk and yogurt. Favorites include avocado coffee, avocado with wasabi and soy sauce, fried avocado, and avocado chicken stew. Some restaurants even offer avocado feasts, featuring eight dishes with the fruit.

Zha Ke, who is from the Wa ethnic group, likes avocado chicken porridge, a dish that blends traditional Wa cuisine with the creamy fruit.

Avocados, which originated in Mexico and spread to Central and South America, are now primarily produced and exported by Mexico, Peru and Kenya.

The delicious and nutritious fruit has gained in global popularity due to its association with a healthy lifestyle. Rich in fats, dietary fiber, protein, and vitamins, yet low in sugar, avocados are versatile and can be enjoyed both as a vegetable and a fruit.

In Menglian, avocados have transitioned from an imported novelty to a local specialty thanks to the region's natural advantages and the collaborative efforts of the local government, enterprises, and farmers.

In 2007, Qi Jiazhu, general manager of Pu'er Green Bank Biological Co, began researching suitable locations for avocado cultivation in China. After setting up trial fields in Guangdong, Hainan, and Yunnan provinces, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the small town of Menglian emerged as the most promising site.

"Menglian and Uruapan in Michoacan, Mexico, the world's top avocado region, are almost on the same latitude and have very similar climates. Menglian's suitable temperatures, ample rainfall, and unique karst topography matched the avocado's preference for moisture without waterlogging," Qi said.

"Even during dry spells, the Nanlei River flowing through Menglian's Mangxin town ensures the avocados receive natural irrigation. Since 2007, we trialed over 100 avocado varieties from around the world in Menglian, but most did not perform satisfactorily," he recalled.

After eight years of testing, his team selected 12 promising varieties, but mainly Hass, for cultivation in Menglian.

"If developed well, Menglian could become a production center for avocados in Asia," Qi said.

In 2015, large-scale planting began in Menglian. However, promoting the large-scale cultivation of an unfamiliar exotic fruit among local villagers was not easy.

Zha Ke first heard about avocados in 2016.

"When officials promoted avocado planting, we were hesitant because we had never heard of avocados and were worried about market demand and income," he recalled. "But after researching online and learning about the high demand for imported avocados, combined with the village's promotion and the '334 collaboration model', we decided to give it a try."