In 2006-2007 the International Committee for Chinese Industrial Cooperatives (ICCIC), Shandan Cooperative Federation (SCF), Shandan Bailie School, Shandan Women’s Federation and the New Zealand China Friendship Society worked together to develop rural cooperatives in Shandan County. .
The benefits of establishing a cooperative was introduced to a large group of villages and from this eight producer cooperatives were established in four townships. One cooperative began to market these watermelons which are particularly sweet as they are non-irrigated. Since forming the cooperative the farmers grade them into three different qualities and so receive better prices from the market.
