As one of China's premier sunflower seed production bases, Beitun City in the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps boasts unparalleled natural endowments. With an average of 3,000 hours of annual sunshine, a daily temperature difference exceeding 15°C, saline-alkali soil characteristics, and irrigation from glacial low-deuterium water, the sunflower seeds grown here are plump and full. This quality advantage has transformed an unassuming seed into a cornerstone of a massive industrial cluster over the past decade, making it the most vibrant segment within the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps' industrial landscape. Currently, Beitun City boasts 500,000 mu (approximately 33,333 hectares) of sunflower cultivation bases and 37 sunflower seed processing enterprises, achieving an annual processing output value of 450 million yuan.



  “The transformation of small sunflower seeds into a major industry is primarily driven by supportive policies,” “ Ren Huaixuan, member of the Party Working Committee and deputy director of the Beituan Economic Development Zone Management Committee, pointed to the industrial chain diagram on the wall. He explained that in 2024, Beituan City incorporated sunflower seed processing into its ”5·16“ modern industrial system, clearly positioning it as a ”key cultivation industry“ and planning a full-chain development path encompassing ”raw material cultivation, primary processing, deep processing, and branded sales." Currently, the park hosts 28 sunflower seed processing enterprises, including 6 above-scale companies, with an annual production capacity exceeding 200,000 tons. Multiple local brands have entered high-end supermarkets in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, achieving a crucial upgrade from “selling raw materials” to “selling brands.”



  Beyond sunflower seeds, local enterprises also process other varieties like pumpkin seeds. Inside a Class 100,000 cleanroom at a sunflower seed processing plant in Beitun Economic Development Zone, pumpkin seeds undergo a metamorphosis: stone removal, color sorting, X-ray inspection, nitrogen-flushed packaging... Each seed passes through over a dozen precision processes before leaving the factory. “The company operates three production lines, including one for shelled pumpkin seeds with an annual capacity of 10,000 tons,” explained a company representative. Through domestic and international exhibitions organized by the Beitun Municipal Commerce Bureau, the company's seed products have expanded into broader global markets.



The extension of the seed processing industry chain has also brought tangible benefits to farmers. Xiang Yang, deputy commander of the 188th Regiment, noted that this year over 40 enterprises and cooperatives within the regiment signed cultivation contracts with more than 500 farmers, covering 60,000 mu (approximately 4,000 hectares) of land. This arrangement guarantees farmers an additional income of at least 200 yuan per mu, alleviating their concerns about selling their pumpkin seeds while ensuring a stable supply of raw materials for enterprises. It has created a win-win situation for farmers, enterprises, and cooperatives.



  The brand influence of Beitun melon seeds continues to expand. “At this year's Asia-Europe Commodity Trade Expo in Kazakhstan, Beitun melon seeds were classified as Category A products by multiple international buyers, further opening export opportunities,” said Zhao Gang, Deputy Director of Beitun City's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau. Zhao Gang, Deputy Director of Beitun's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, stated that the region has established a dual-drive system combining “regional public brand + corporate brand,” standardizing packaging labels and quality traceability protocols.



From a local specialty of China's northwestern frontier to a globally recognized snack, the journey of Beitun melon seeds vividly illustrates how distinctive county-level industries are taking root in rural areas and advancing toward high-quality development.