On April 10th, the 15th Guangdong Modern Agricultural Expo opened at the Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Center in Dongguan. At the Maoming exhibition area, the "Technology No. 1" lychee variety made its early market debut. This is the earliest-ripening lychee variety in Guangdong, arriving even earlier than the "Sanyuehong" variety. The current farm-gate price is 25 yuan per 500 grams.

At the expo, 21 prefecture-level cities showcased their authentic local delicacies and top-quality agricultural products. If one were to name the most iconic agricultural product of Maoming, lychees would undoubtedly claim the top spot.

Early on the morning of the 10th, freshly harvested "Technology No. 1" lychees were delivered to the expo, offering the very first taste of Guangdong lychees this year.

The "Technology No. 1" lychee variety is a high-quality, early-ripening variety that Maoming has focused on promoting in recent years, ripening earlier than "Sanyuehong," traditionally the earliest variety in Guangdong. Currently, the planting area for "Technology No. 1" in Maonan District is approximately 160 mu (about 10.67 hectares).

This year, Maoming's "Technology No. 1" has further narrowed the gap in market timing compared to Hainan lychees. Thanks to favorable weather conditions and fine field management this year, it is expected to hit the market in large quantities by April 20th. However, compared to Guangdong's main varieties such as Baitangying, Feizixiao, and Guiwei, the planting area of "Technology No. 1" is not yet sufficient to support widespread early consumption.

Taking Maoming lychees as an example, the main varieties Baitangying and Feizixiao are expected to hit the market in mid-May this year. Guiwei and Heiye are expected in early June; Nuomici and Jinggang Hongnuo in mid-June; and Xianjinfeng in late June.

比“三月红”还早，茂名荔枝农博会上抢鲜上市

4月10日，第十五届广东现代农业博览会在东莞广东现代国际展览中心开幕。在茂名展区，荔枝“科技一号”抢鲜上市，这是广东最早熟的荔枝品种，比“三月红”更早，目前田头价格25元/斤。

农博会上，21个地级市都拿出了自己的地道美食、最优农产品。茂名最具代表性的农产品是什么？荔枝当仁不让。

10日一早，从枝头新鲜采摘的荔枝“科技一号”就被送到了农博会，这是今年广东荔枝的第一口鲜。

“科技一号”是茂名近年来重点推广的早熟优质品种，比传统广东最早熟的荔枝“三月红”更早。目前茂南区“科技一号”的种植面积在160亩左右。

今年广东“科技一号”进一步缩短了跟海南荔枝上市的时间差，得益于今年适宜的气候条件与精细化田间管理，预计4月20日即可大量上市。但对比白糖罂、妃子笑、桂味等广东荔枝主力品种，“科技一号”的种植面积还满足不了大范围的尝鲜。

以茂名荔枝为例，主力品种白糖罂、妃子笑今年的上市时间预计在5月中旬，桂味、黑叶预计6月上旬上市，糯米糍、井岗红糯预计6月中旬上市，仙进奉预计在6月下旬上市。

文、图｜许悦 孙牧
翻译｜徐芷晴
审校｜曾敏