Tremella farmers：Zhang Yunfen and her husband Li Wanjun

On September 15, a sunny day, led by the instructive teacher, we four students of the project group of “Tongjiang – the Town of Chinese Tremella” in Huoju Middle School, after taking 2-hour mountain road, finally arrived at Zhang Yunfen’s home (which is located at 5th commune, 2nd village, Fuyang Town, Tongjiang County, Sichuan Province) to inspect the harvest of tremella. Aunt Zhang’s home is located at the golden land of tremella production, where is of beautiful scenery, abundant plants and animals. The place is almost a half-virgin forest because there are little people around. It is the humid and natural place where produces the world famous Tongjiang Tremella.

When we first met Aunt Zhang, she led us to the side room for inspecting and chatting:：

Tremella on the stalk                                                                                                            Our team

Zhang Yunfen: The climate of this year is really pleasant for tremella. We anticipate 150 catties of tremella of high quality this year.
Zhang Hao: Aunt Zhang, how do you sell so much tremella after harvest? And What about the price?

Zhang Yunfen: There are many businessmen from all over the country coming to buy tremella, and the price is much better than before. The price this year is estimated at over 100 Yuan per catty. In the past, we had to carry the tremella to Fuyang by taking several hours of mountain road and always got a lower price.

Pan Yue: Aunt Zhang, I see the tremella in the side room is white, but why the packed one is golden?

Zhang Yunfen: Ha…ha, you can’t know. Fresh tremella is white. During long-term growth process, there may be a lot dust and spot in it, so we have to rinse it in the river at the foot of mountain after picking, and because the river water is all natural, the rinsed tremella is somewhat special compared with that in other places. When rinsing, you must hold proper intensity – you must clean it thoroughly but avoid ruining it, otherwise it will be harder to sell.

Yangyang: Aunt Zhang, how do we to separate good tremella from the bad?

Zhang Yunfen: First, you should look at its color. If the tremella is in an unusual white color or with specially thick meat, it has been probably steamed by ground rice and sulfur. The tremella with more ears is not better, so we should choose that with less ears. Now the natural tremella is promoted, so no one will steam it with sulfur, otherwise, the tremella will hardly sell. Moreover, it has been strictly prohibited by the government, and the tremella businessmen will never want to do it if they want to do the business further.

Liu Tong: Aunt Zhang, would you like to tell us the planting process?

Zhang Yunfen: Sure. First, we should cut some oaks, and then scatter the seeds on the trees with special tools. When the temperature, humidity and sunshine are all pleasant, tremella will grow out from the tree branches. After harvesting, you can reserve the tree branches for reusing until the nutrition is consumed and tremella is not so good. Then you can use the branches for fuel. When tremella grows out, you should take good care of it. Then you will pick it and rinse in the river. And you can sell it after drying. Now the old method left by older generations is still popular in our village, because the tremella processed in this way is natural and delicious

Pan Yue: Aunt Zhang, what difficulties have you encountered in growing tremella and how do you solve them?

Zhang Yunfen: There are mainly two kinds of difficulties. The first one is that tremella count much on weather. Once the weather is bad, we can get little tremella. It can’t be said that we can count on a good harvest when tremella grows out. The year before last, owing to the rainy days, the harvested tremellas were rotten (Zhang’s eyes are filled with tear when she says this). The second, in the past when we got a good harvest, dealers always offered very low prices, and we had to sell the tremella at a sacrifice. Now the situation has been changed, our tremella is precious and we have no trouble selling it, which will be certainly attributed to the consideration of government.

Zhang Yunfen: I will take you to pick and rinse tremella, and let you experience the life of tremella farmers yourselves.