Before the early morning mist dissipates, the corn fields in Hexing Town, Dejiang County, Guizhou, are already bustling with activity. Villagers move through the fields, loading plump corn cobs into their baskets. "Picking in the early morning preserves the corn’s sweetness to the greatest extent," explains Ma Wencai, a major grower, while checking the corn’s growth. Food Exhibition learned that after strict sorting, these dew-covered corn cobs will be processed and packaged the same day, then delivered directly to consumers’ dinner tables in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area via cold-chain logistics.  

At Dejiang County’s fresh corn processing plant, workers skillfully grade the corn by quality. By 2025, the planting area of fresh corn in Dejiang County has exceeded 22,000 mu. With technical support from the Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, high-quality varieties such as "Jincainuo 2020" and "Huitiannuo No. 6" thrive here. From seed selection and seedling raising to field management, agricultural experts provide full guidance, supplemented by special subsidy policies, laying a solid foundation for the corn’s quality.

The extension of the industrial chain has significantly increased the value of Dejiang’s corn. After vacuum packaging to lock in freshness, the per-mu profit of corn has risen from 1,750 yuan for fresh sales at the field to approximately 4,000 yuan. Even more pleasantly, the previously overlooked young corn cores have now transformed into "corn shoots," becoming a new favorite in the catering market whether stir-fried, added to soups, or made into pickled pepper-flavored dishes. "Vacuum packaging perfectly locks in the corn’s tenderness and freshness, allowing consumers to enjoy the original mountain sweetness with a simple heating," notes Ma Wencai.  

Food Exhibition observed that Dejiang County has also achieved efficient utilization of the entire corn plant. Local forage processing enterprises recycle corn stalks at 300 yuan per ton, processing them into high-quality forage to supply nearby cattle farms, forming a green industrial chain with resource recycling. Currently, Dejiang County has built production lines capable of processing 5,000 to 10,000 fresh corn cobs per hour. The supporting cold-chain logistics center ensures that fresh ears are pre-cooled within 24 hours and sorted and shipped within 48 hours.  

"Our fresh corn is not only sold to the Greater Bay Area through traditional channels but also expands its market via live-streaming e-commerce and east-west cooperation mechanisms," says a relevant person in charge of Dejiang County’s Agriculture and Rural Bureau. The complete industrial chain from field to table not only guarantees farmers’ income but also allows consumers thousands of miles away to savor the natural gifts from Guizhou’s mountains at any time.

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Source: China Food Safety Network

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