Blockbuster boosts sales of lotus root

Lotus root has been planted in China for some 3,000 years, and the country produces 80 percent of the world's supply. Hubei's production accounts for one-third of the national total.

The planting area in the province is 86,700 hectares, with an annual production of 3.2 million metric tons, with both ranking first in China, according to official statistics.

In Honghu alone, the planting area of lotus root exceeds 14,700 hectares, with an annual yield of nearly 300,000 tons.

Honghu lotus root and derivative products generated about 582 million yuan ($80.1 million) from Jan 29 to Feb 23, with year-on-year growth of 51 percent, data from Honghu Lotus Root Industry Development Center showed.

Sales of fresh lotus root reached 18,700 tons. Sales of deep-processed products such as lotus root powder, lotus sprouts and lotus root soup also achieved year-on-year growth, it said.

"Since Spring Festival, the order volume of our lotus root and deep-processed products on e-commerce platforms has increased significantly, with a year-on-year growth of over 200 percent," said Yuan Jun, deputy general manager of Natrich, a major lotus root food company in Honghu.

Yuan said that during Spring Festival, consumers had a strong desire to try out lotus root products because of the movie.