Purple crops paint Situan town's early winter landscape

Early winter in Situan town, Fengxian district, Shanghai, is marked by expansive purple fields across 11 villages, where purple cauliflower, purple rice, and purple corn form a seasonal spectacle that attracts visitors while strengthening rural industries and collective incomes.

Purple cauliflower. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

In Xinqiao village, experimental fields showcase vibrant purple cauliflowers developed by the Horticultural Research Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The compact heads display rich colors and offer high nutritional value, including anthocyanins, folate, and vitamin C.

These purple cauliflowers have demonstrated strong market potential due to their distinctive appearance and quality. This year, planting trials expanded to many villages, allowing more farmers to increase returns for local collective economies.

North of Xinqiao, Xiajia village has completed its harvest of purple rice. Inside the local processing facility, automated production lines handle dehusking, cleaning, drying, and refinement, turning freshly harvested grain into premium packaged rice products.

Xiajia village has also expanded its agricultural value chain by partnering with the Yao Duoduo brand to develop porridge purple rice. The product is now available through JD's China specialty Fengxian pavilion and has gained steady consumer recognition.

Purple corn. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

In Shicun village, purple corn has ripened after withstanding early heat and late cold snaps, which enhanced its nutrients and flavor. Across Situan town, 11 villages are integrating cultivation, processing, and branding to turn purple crops into a sustainable driver of rural vitalization.