Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WHDZ), located in Wuhan city in Central China's Hubei province and also known as Hannan, has been promoting the sales of its Hannan sweet corn through livestreamed sales events, according to local media reports.
At present, more than 50,000 mu (3,333 hectares) of Hannan sweet corn has hit the market. It is expected that by mid-June, more than 95 percent of the corn in the entire Beijing market will be sweet corn produced in Hannan.
Since its launch on June 10 this year, the daily sales revenue of Hannan sweet corn has reached more than 4 million yuan ($624,800). Domestic supermarkets and large wholesale markets across the country, such as Zhongbai, Xingsheng, Suning Yigou, and Wushang, have all ordered Hannan sweet corn.
Hannan was one of the first places in China where sweet corn was grown. It is the national demonstration zone for the production of fresh sweet corn. It is also the country's largest and most comprehensive continuous planting facility, boasting nearly 100 varieties of sweet corn.
The sweet corn produced in Hannan has 1.5 times the sugar content of ordinary corn and can be eaten raw or cooked.
In 2012, Hannan sweet corn was approved as a National Geographical Indication Protection Product, leading Hannan to become known as the Hometown of Sweet Corn in China.
Its core production area, Dengnan Street, was among the first batch of epidemic-free streets in Wuhan. Officials said the cultivation of sweet corn was not affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.
Sweet corn has become an important agricultural product that has helped boost the incomes of local people.
According to statistics, as of June 13, the cumulative sales revenue of Hannan sweet corn had reached more than 13 million yuan.
