Core Viewpoint - The Zaozhuang City Government is hosting the 2025 Pomegranate Industry Development Conference from September 23 to 24, focusing on high-quality development of the pomegranate industry, with the theme "Passion for Pomegranates, Together for the Future" [1][3] Industry Overview - Zaozhuang is known as the "Hometown of Pomegranates" in China, where pomegranates serve as a cultural symbol and a means to promote rural revitalization and increase farmers' income [3][5] - The total output value of the pomegranate industry chain in Zaozhuang reached 4.8 billion yuan in 2024, establishing pomegranates as a "fruit of happiness" for the local population [3][5] Technological Advancements - The area dedicated to pomegranate cultivation remains stable at over 120,000 acres, with an annual production exceeding 120 million pounds [5] - Zaozhuang has collected and preserved 523 varieties of pomegranate germplasm, ranking first in China and leading globally [5] - New pomegranate varieties such as "Frost Beauty" and "Mid-Autumn Red" are undergoing review, while "Purple Jade" and "Ink Beauty" have passed national approval [5] - In 2025, Zaozhuang will initiate an upgrade project for the pomegranate germplasm resource bank, focusing on advanced technologies like space breeding and molecular breeding [5] Market Development - In the previous year, 530,000 new pomegranate trees were planted, achieving a good seed coverage rate of 41% [5] - The establishment of the largest modern pomegranate demonstration garden in the country has solidified Zaozhuang's market position [5] - Since 2024, 25 new deep processing projects have been launched with a total investment of 7.9 billion yuan, covering various sectors including food, beverages, cosmetics, and crafts [5] - The "Guanshi Liuyuan" scenic area received 1.8 million visitors in 2024, generating tourism revenue of 167 million yuan, with continued rapid growth in the first half of this year [5] Policy Support and Brand Development - The Zaozhuang City Government has introduced the "Zaozhuang City Pomegranate Industry High-Quality Development Plan (2024-2035)," establishing a new spatial pattern of "one core leading, two axes radiating, and three areas linking" [6] - The "Zhaocheng Pomegranate" brand has been included in the national agricultural brand cultivation plan and the 2024 China Agricultural Regional Public Brand list [6] - The conference will feature participation from national ministries, provincial leaders, experts, industry representatives, international guests, and media, showcasing the achievements of the pomegranate industry and promoting cooperation [6]

Core Insights - The Zaozhuang government is promoting the pomegranate industry through e-commerce empowerment, channel integration, and technological innovation, achieving significant sales growth and establishing a notable development model in the industry [1][3]. Group 1: E-commerce Empowerment - Zaozhuang has cultivated over 500 online business entities in the pomegranate sector, with annual online sales exceeding 600 million yuan [3]. - The city has successfully applied for a provincial-level pomegranate e-commerce industrial belt and received a subsidy of 1 million yuan for provincial exhibitions [3]. Group 2: Channel Expansion - Pomegranate co-branded products are now available in over 2,000 convenience stores, including a collaboration with Sinopec to launch a co-branded NFC pomegranate juice [3]. - The introduction of pomegranate products into major retail chains has generated an additional annual sales revenue of 30 million yuan [3]. - A high-standard pomegranate comprehensive trading center has been established, achieving an annual fresh fruit trading volume of 150,000 tons [3]. Group 3: Technological Innovation - Collaborations with leading experts and companies have led to breakthroughs in deep processing technology, including the introduction of a top-tier NFC juice production line with a daily output of 200 tons [5]. - The development of over 20 high-value-added new products, such as cosmetics and special dietary foods, has increased their value by 3-5 times compared to raw fruit [5]. - The deep processing of pomegranate skins, seeds, and leaves has resulted in the production of pomegranate seed oil and cosmetic raw materials, further diversifying revenue streams [5].

Core Viewpoint - The event held on August 28 in Jinan, Shandong, aimed to promote agricultural consumption and showcase high-quality agricultural products from Shandong, enhancing the influence of the "Qilu Agricultural Supermarket" brand and demonstrating achievements in rural revitalization strategies [1][3]. Group 1: Event Overview - The event was guided by the Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, organized by Dazhong Media Group and Lushang Group, and hosted by Shandong Qilu Agricultural Supermarket Technology Co., Ltd. [3]. - Nearly 200 participants attended, including representatives from 16 cities in Shandong, well-known agricultural product distribution companies, major supermarket buyers, e-commerce platform representatives, and outstanding enterprises [1][3]. Group 2: Industry Development - Shandong has over 11,000 large-scale agricultural processing enterprises with a revenue of 2.3 trillion yuan, accounting for one-tenth of the national total, and 151 national key leading enterprises [5]. - The province has developed ten industrial clusters, including Yantai apples and Yellow River beef, and established 19 modern agricultural industrial parks and 122 strong agricultural towns [5]. Group 3: Future Plans - Shandong aims to create a higher-level "Qilu Granary" and accelerate the formation of a new rural industrial development pattern that is safe, complete, green, low-carbon, and beneficial to farmers [7]. - The "Qilu Agricultural Supermarket" platform, launched in August 2023, has gathered nearly 5,600 quality agricultural enterprises and integrated over 100 high-quality products from 16 cities [9]. Group 4: Marketing Initiatives - The event introduced various marketing activities both online and offline, including digital currency promotions and a "flowing exhibition + on-site experience" model for showcasing Shandong products [9]. - The "Qilu Agricultural Supermarket" will focus on five areas for future development: integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, supply chain optimization, digital upgrades, brand matrix deepening, and market expansion [9].

Group 1 - The article highlights the tenth anniversary of local legislative power granted to district-level cities in Shandong Province, emphasizing the successful implementation of numerous local regulations that promote regional specialties and development [2] - The introduction of specific regulations for local products such as winter jujube, pomegranate, and kite culture aims to enhance the standardization and branding of these industries, thereby providing a legal foundation for their growth [3][4][5] Group 2 - The "Regulations on the Promotion of Winter Jujube Industry Development" in Binzhou, effective from September 1, 2025, addresses issues such as low intensification, weak resistance to natural disasters, and high cultivation costs of the "Zhan Dong No. 2" variety [3] - The "Regulations on the Promotion of Pomegranate Industry Development" in Zaozhuang, set to take effect on December 1, 2024, is noted as the first specialized regulation for the pomegranate industry in the country [4] - The "Regulations on the Protection of Yantai Wine Production Area," effective from January 1, 2021, were established to eliminate institutional barriers and promote the development of the Yantai wine industry [4][5]

Group 1 - The article highlights the tenth anniversary of local legislative power granted to district-level cities in Shandong Province, emphasizing the development of numerous local regulations that promote unique regional products [1][9] - The establishment of specific regulations for local specialties such as Dezhou chicken, Yantai wine, Weifang kites, Rizhao green tea, Zaozhuang pomegranates, and Binzhou winter jujubes has enhanced the protection and promotion of these products [1][9] Group 2 - The Binzhou winter jujube industry has a planting area of 300,000 acres, with an annual output exceeding 600 million pounds and a total industrial output value surpassing 6 billion yuan [2][4] - The newly approved "Binzhou Winter Jujube Industry Development Promotion Regulations" will take effect on September 1, 2025, providing a legal framework for the standardization and branding of the winter jujube industry [4] - Zaozhuang's "Pomegranate Industry Development Promotion Regulations," effective December 1, 2024, is the first of its kind in the country, focusing on resource protection, cultivation management, and brand development [5] - Weifang's "Kite Cultural Industry Promotion Regulations," effective October 1, 2024, aims to address challenges in the kite industry and enhance its cultural significance [7] - Yantai's "Wine Region Protection Regulations," effective January 1, 2021, support the wine industry's development, with a comprehensive industry value exceeding 50 billion yuan [8] - Rizhao's "Rizhao Green Tea Protection Management Regulations," effective April 1, 2025, aim to enhance the quality and brand protection of Rizhao green tea, which has a total output value of 4.2 billion yuan [11]