A Shine Muscat vineyard in Rudong, Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

In 2012, Cui Haiyan, a fruit wholesaler in Rudong county, Nantong, recognized the market potential of the Shine Muscat grape. Within just three years, her 6,667-square-meter vineyard had generated more than 1 million yuan ($140,106) in sales.

As her experience grew, so did her expertise and the scale of her operations, leading to the development of a replicable model for cultivating high-quality grapes.

However, Cui observed that as the Shine Muscat market expanded, the overall quality of the grapes became inconsistent, leading to declining prices. She identified two key issues: the difficulty in managing the cultivation process and the absence of sales channels.

In 2016, Cui founded the Haitangchun Grape Production and Sales Alliance, bringing together growers, technical experts, and sales partners to create a comprehensive industrial chain. Today, the alliance operates 46 service stations in 17 provinces, involving over 600 members and 3,333 hectares of Shine Muscat vineyards.

The alliance provides free technical support and regular on-site guidance to growers, while also guaranteeing the purchase and distribution of their grapes at protective prices.

The alliance has invested in innovative technologies, including a 12 million yuan smart greenhouse, which uses internet of things and advanced monitoring systems to optimize growing conditions.

Cui emphasized that the alliance's unified standards for quality, pricing, and sales have not only enhanced market competitiveness but also strengthened the Shine Muscat grape industry as a whole.