In the Suyu district of Suqian, Jiangsu province, green gorgon leaves are spread on paddy fields and workers stand in water to harvest jitoumi — also known as chicken head rice or gorgon fruit seeds.
The workers, wearing waterproof suits, fish out the fruits from the water and cut the stems with a small knife before placing them in a nearby net.
The gorgon fruit seeds can be harvested from mid-August to mid-October. The workers, most of whom are local farmers, can earn a monthly income of 4,000 to 5,000 yuan ($550 to $688) by harvesting the fruit, which is shaped like a chicken's head.
In a factory processing the gorgon fruit, sorting, peeling and separating takes place using professional equipment. The processed seeds are white and round and can be sold for as much as 100 yuan per kilogram.
Highly welcomed by many Chinese people, the gorgon fruit seeds have been sold in many provinces across the country on e-commerce platforms.
