After getting media coverage and government support, Ouhang Village in Dainan Town of Xinghua, a county-level city under the administration of Taizhou, was able to sell its muskmelons quickly despite supply chain uncertainties caused by COVID-19. 

Wang Chengzhong, Party chief of the village, said the first harvest of 125,000 kg of muskmelons, or 68.6% of the estimated total production, was sold out and now in the process of delivery.  

The village had a weak economic foundation after an assessment by Taizhou in 2016 and then received the provincial support to develop collective economy in 2017. The village’s fruit and vegetable cooperative operates greenhouse farms over an area of 200 mu (13.3 hectares) and provide jobs for 50 villagers.  

On March 17, local official Wei Yan wrote an article calling for help to these villagers who are worried of dropping orders due to COVID-19 restrictions. Wei’s article was later republished by media outlets and gained a lot of attention. Then on April 3, Xinghua government launched a campaign to boost the sales of local agricultural produces including the village’s muskmelons. In addition to a local charity organization, Xinghua’s Federation of Trade Unions and Agricultural and Rural Bureau also joined to market the produces on many fronts.  

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