In the early winter, the ancient mulberry trees along the old Yellow River in Xiajin, known as"an important agricultural cultural heritage in the world", have a unique charm.The leaves of more than 6000 mu ancient trees rustle in the wind, with branches of different shapes, or groups or solitary, twigs curling.

At present, although it is the slack season, Liu Chuanfeng, the chairman of the professional farmer cooperative of Chuanfeng fruit planting in Xiajin County, is still busy.

After the frost falls, the cooperative is busy. The members are busy picking the mulberry leaves after the frost to make the frost mulberry tea.

The frosted mulberry leaves can be made into frosted mulberry tea with health care and health preservation function after several steps, such as chopping, green removing, rolling, drying, and deodorizing. Each step should be controlled by precise time and heat.

"Nowadays, the tea stir frying is electrified, and the temperature is controlled by computer. The fragrance, quality and efficiency are improved than before. We reprocess mulberry leaves, which improves the added value of mulberry leaves." Liu Chuanfeng said.

Frosted mulberry leaves are processed into frosted mulberry tea, which has both health care value and economic value. It has not only a strong local market demand, but also exported to Shanghai, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Henan and other places.

"About 1500 kilograms of frost mulberry leaves can produce about 300 kilograms of frost mulberry tea. According to the current market, the price of frost mulberry leaves is about 150 yuan per kilogram, and the income of our members can quadruple compared with the original. This not only promotes the increase of people's income, but also drives the surrounding villagers to achieve employment and wealth at home." Liu Chuanfeng said.

After several years of development, the number of members of the cooperative has increased from more than 20 when it was founded to 112 now. The cooperative has also been awarded the titles of"Shandong Provincial Rural Revitalization Demonstration Station","Dezhou Time honored Brand","2021 Grassroots Agricultural Technology Popularization System Reform and Construction Task Project", etc.At present, the mulberry products processed by the cooperatives include more than 10 products, such as dried fruit, leaf tea, fruit powder, leaf surface, fruit wine, etc. The annual processing and production of high-quality mulberry products is more than 20 tons, and the economic benefit will be more than 1 million yuan in 2021. Today, mulberry product processing has become a brand industry for local farmers to increase their income and become rich.

Tong Guiying, a villager, said:"I have six or seven mu of mulberry fields, and now I have joined the cooperative. The mulberry leaves can bake tea leaves, and the fruits can be dried. Now life is getting better and better. I have worked in the cooperative, which has increased my income."

From a fruit to a leaf and then to a chain, it is not only a change of farmers' ideas, but also a vivid practice of Xiajin to realize that"lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".Relying on the unique and precious resources of ancient mulberry trees and the gold lettered signboard of"Important Global Agricultural Cultural Heritage", Xiajin has developed a variety of products such as ancient mulberry tea, mulberry leaf refined powder, mulberry leaf noodles, etc. around"a piece of mulberry leaves", with an annual processing capacity of more than 1000 tons of mulberry leaves. This piece of"ancient leaves" has become the"power source" of farmers' wealth and rural beauty in 12 core villages and 12 extension villages where ancient mulberry trees are located.（Reporter Deng Meiping Wang Xiaoqian）