从无人问津到香飘京城，新发地董事长张玉玺与桂林香芋的30年“芋”缘

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the journey of Guilin taro from obscurity to becoming a popular agricultural product in Beijing, largely due to the efforts of Zhang Yuxi, chairman of Xinfadi Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, over the past 30 years [5][52]. Group 1: Background and Development - Zhang Yuxi has been a significant figure in the agricultural product distribution sector for over 40 years, founding the Xinfadi market which has grown from a 15-acre site to the largest agricultural wholesale market in Beijing [13][14][42]. - In the 1990s, Zhang introduced Guilin taro to Beijing, but initially faced challenges in promoting this unfamiliar southern product to northern consumers [15][16][18]. - The turning point came in 1996 when the TV drama "The Emperor's Chef" featured Guilin taro, leading to a surge in demand and transforming it into a sought-after product in the Beijing market [25][29][38]. Group 2: Current Industry Status - The Guilin taro industry has evolved into a comprehensive system encompassing standardized planting, large-scale processing, and brand marketing, with an annual output value exceeding 3.5 billion yuan [43][44]. - The industry has expanded its production area to over 180,000 acres, yielding more than 300,000 tons annually, and has developed a brand value projected to reach 2.922 billion yuan by 2025 [46][48]. - New brands such as Anhe Taro and Qinglong Taro have emerged, contributing to a competitive brand matrix, while the industry has diversified into processed products like taro slices and taro balls, catering to new markets such as tea drinks and health foods [49][50][51].