A demonstration and research orchard in China’s Shaanxi Province. China’s apple production is increasing in its western provinces. Apple production is shifting to new areas as grain and vegetable production has proven more profitable for producers in higher rainfall areas. Five years ago, in China’s Shaanxi Province, the area around its capital city of Xi’an was dense with apple orchards. Today, orchards are rare. Trees were replaced by wheat fields when producers responded to government incentives to increase grain production. Apple production began to shift to the northern parts of the province, which is essentially a high plateau with limited […]