Food
Zhao Lusi’s Endorsement Ignites Dried Apple Jerky Boom in China
The dried‑apple market in China, long a modest niche within the country’s sprawling fruit industry, has suddenly found itself under the spotlight thanks to a blend of celebrity influence, social‑media fervor and a growing appetite for healthier snacks. At the center of this unexpected surge is actress Zhao Lusi, whose recent Weibo livestream championed “hail‑damaged” apples—locally known as “冰雹果”—that would otherwise have been discarded for their bruised appearance. By urging fans to purchase the fruit after it has been transformed into apple jerky, Zhao turned a routine agricultural product into a viral social‑good campaign that many Chinese netizens have hailed as a genuine “aid to agriculture” effort.
