Tian'e chestnuts go from rural treats to major hits

Tian'e county in Hechi, Guangxi, has turned its local chestnuts into a hit product, creating steady jobs and increasing incomes for residents.

Local workers sort chestnut kernels. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

At a local chestnut processing enterprise in Chang'an Homeland Industrial Park, sweet aroma of chestnuts blends with the hum of machinery as automated lines sort, inspect and preserve the nuts.

Each chestnut must undergo 29 steps, including quick-freezing at -45 degree and high-pressure sterilization, before it is turned into an additive-free snack.

The plant processes 60 metric tons of raw nuts daily. After receiving its food safety certification last year, its products began appearing on shelves at major supermarket chains across South China.

More than 160 relocated locals now work at the plant full-time, with 500 temporary roles available during busy seasons. Relocated worker Luo Cuiling says the job ensures stable pay while letting her care for her family.

The county built a 38,000-mu (2,533-hectare) standardized chestnut base and attracted four agricultural processors to the park. By embedding the deep-processing chain into resettlement zones, Tian'e has transformed a humble farm product into a driver of livelihood improvement.