He Shuang, founder of Huili Chuangxian Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., is somewhat of a celebrity in Huili (a city in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in Southwest China's Sichuan Province). Why? Given her tremendous efforts to help farmers escape poverty, by helping them increase sales of pomegranates and other fruits, the 26-year-old woman was named one of China's Excellent Migrant Workers in 2021. 

'Pomegranate Sister' 

Huili has long been known for its juicy, sweet pomegranates. He grew up eating pomegranates as snacks. The villagers supported their families by growing and selling the fruit. He's parents sold pomegranates to help pay for her and her younger sister's university educations. 

When she was young, He set a goal for herself: To develop her career in the "new world" beyond the mountains (in her hometown). All of the villagers were proud of her when the Yunnan Branch (in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province) of China Eastern Airlines employed He as a flight attendant in 2016. 

Soon after she returned home, in July 2017, He noticed few online shopping platforms promoted sales of Huili's pomegranates. She quit her job with the airline to start an online business. 

He often recalls the hardships during the first three years of running her business. At first, she sold a large number of pomegranates via live online shows. However, she suffered setbacks, as she tried to work with owners of other online stores to promote sales of the fruit. Despite the failures, He did not lose heart. "As I provided reliable, trustworthy services to my customers, I gradually accumulated customer resources and established my fruit supply chain. 

"I'm emotionally attached to my home village ... Every day, during those years, I brainstormed how to help the rural residents promote sales of their pomegranates, so they could live better lives," recalls He. 

In May 2018, He established her company. During that year, the company earned more than 20 million yuan (US $2.86 million) by selling pomegranates, both online and offline. The following year, the company became a supplier for Pinduoduo, China's leading online shopping platform for agricultural products. In 2019, the company achieved an online sales volume in excess of 35 million yuan (US $5 million). 

In 2021, the company established a cold chain warehousing and logistics center. The company's supply capacity was greatly improved, as the new warehouse implemented the standardized sorting system on its assembly line. In August that year, when pomegranates first appeared on the market, the company achieved a sales volume of more than 10 million yuan (US $1.43 million), which far outnumbered that of the same period of the previous year. 

Promoting Hometown's Pomegranates 

On September 7, 2020, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Pinduoduo and CCTV (China Central Television) hosted a live, online show to promote sales of farmers' agricultural products. The event was part of the activity of the 2020 Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival Autumn Consumption Season, sponsored by MARA, China Media Group (CMG) and the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC). Given the efforts of He and the host of CCTV to promote Huili's pomegranates, the fruit sold well during the show. 

During the following years, the company promoted, both online and offline, more than 10 varieties of fruits produced in various regions of the country. As her company has boomed, He has become known far and wide as "Pomegranate Sister." 

He was honored when the leading group dedicated to improving work involving migrant workers, under the State Council (the central government's cabinet), named her one of China's Excellent Migrant Workers (in 2021). She was proud of being labeled a "New Farmer." 

He is also dedicated to charitable causes. "During the past few years, our company has offered donations and daily necessities to impoverished students in Huangbo Primary School (in Huili). We have also provided financial assistance to farmers, to help them improve pomegranates' varieties," says He. She adds she hopes children (in her hometown) will have more opportunities to get to know the outside world. She also says she hopes more rural youths will return home to promote Huili's agricultural development. 

During autumn, He's company delivers more than 50 tons of pomegranates every day. He has a tight daily schedule. At 6 a.m. every morning, she leaves home and goes to various orchards near Huili, to select quality fruits for consumers. During the day, she is also busy with warehouse management, customer coordination and other work. 

He has earned high praise from netizens and rural residents (across the country) for her selfless devotion to helping farmers (in Huili) live better lives. Influenced by He, many young people (in Huili), who have established online stores, have been using livestreaming platforms to help farmers sell specialty products. In 2018, a short time after she graduated from university, He Qian, He Shuang's younger sister, returned home to join He Shuang in running her business. 

"I hope more young people will devote themselves to promoting their hometowns' agricultural development. I also hope the young people will do their bit to build prosperous, beautiful new socialist countryside," says He Shuang.

Photos Supplied by He Shuang

(Women of China English Monthly October 2023 issue)