As a new characteristic vegetable produced in Wuhan, Yafei Wanlianqing Lacinato kale has been highly popular in the market since its launch in 2024, quickly becoming a viral star product and a new top leafy vegetable for hot pot. As one of Wuhan’s Jiangcheng Baizhen high-quality agricultural products, it is now in its peak harvest season. To ensure food safety for citizens and empower product quality, municipal agricultural authorities conducted a comprehensive quality inspection at the Lacinato kale planting base in Hannan Economic Development Zone on May 8.

On the morning of that day, staff from Wuhan Agricultural Testing Center collected 10 random samples using the five-point sampling method at the Lacinato kale planting base of Yafei Agricultural Science and Technology Park in Hannan Economic Development Zone. Rapid on-site tests for organophosphorus and carbamate pesticide residues were carried out in the park’s laboratory, and all results were qualified. Another 2 random samples were taken back to the municipal agricultural testing center for quantitative detection of 73 pesticide items, with results to be submitted to the Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. At the sampling site, rows of Wanlianqing Lacinato kale were growing vigorously in fertile soil. After rain, the plump, wrinkled tender leaves glowed with translucent emerald green, like jade inlaid on the ground, full of vitality. Mr. He Yafei, General Manager of Yafei Seed, introduced that Wanlianqing Lacinato kale is a new characteristic vegetable independently developed by Yafei Seed. It is highly nutritious, with vitamin C content 2.5 times that of kiwifruit, making it a natural vitamin C vegetable. It is also rich in dietary fiber, calcium, folic acid and other nutrients.

Speaking of the market performance of Wanlianqing Lacinato kale, Mr. He Yafei said excitedly: “At present, major partners include well-known catering brands such as Banu Maodu Hotpot and Haidilao Hot Pot, as well as large food supply chain enterprises including Ninghuixian and Bashu Layun. The market price can reach about 40 yuan per jin, and demand far exceeds supply with great prospects!” He added that Wanlianqing Lacinato kale is an upgraded version of kale, with higher nutrient density and better taste. Besides being favored by the catering industry, many tea drink enterprises are also in negotiation with the company. In the future, Wanlianqing Lacinato kale will be launched as a healthy fruit and vegetable tea drink into daily life.

According to the relevant person in charge of the municipal agricultural authorities, as a new Wuhan-produced vegetable, the R&D achievement of Lacinato kale has received high attention from leaders at provincial and municipal levels. It will be built as a key local agricultural brand to become a “new name card” of Wuhan’s vegetable industry. Through technical support, Yafei Wanlianqing Lacinato kale can be supplied year-round. The municipal agricultural authorities have issued policy subsidies for its planting to support rapid expansion and meet market demand. The total planting area is expected to reach about 5,000 mu in 2025, including about 3,000 mu around Wuhan, with a per-mu yield of about 1,500 jin.

“With a large number of fresh fruits and vegetables on the market in spring, strict food safety safeguards protect public health and enterprise product quality,” said Huang Wei, Senior Agronomist at Wuhan Agricultural Testing Center. In the future, the center will continue to cooperate closely with municipal agricultural authorities to fully implement the grid management system for agricultural product quality and safety, effectively protect consumer food safety, help high-quality Wuhan agricultural products go out of Hubei to the whole country, and build influential Wuhan characteristic agricultural brands.