1 / 5   Chen Zhanglong, a farmer born in a rural village in Taizhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, has been growing Chinese bayberries for nearly 30 years and selling his produce online since 2016. As his children left home long ago, Chen and most elders in his village live by themselves or with their spouses – known as empty-nesters. /VCG Photo

2 / 5   In 2016, Chen began to sell his produce online with the help of his daughter. He got 1,600 orders of Chinese bayberries last year, earning roughly 10,000 yuan (about 1,560 US dollars). /VCG Photo 

3 / 5   For other farmers who don’t have the means to sell online, the average income for growing and selling Chinese bayberries is only 3,000 yuan (about 470 US dollars) a year. /VCG Photo

4 / 5   After Chen saw the advantages of digitizing his business, he decided to pass along his success to his peers in hopes of generating more sustainable income for the entire village, and lift more rural farmers – empty-nesters – out of poverty. /VCG Photo

5 / 5   This year, he has taught his peers to grow and sell the fruit online. Now, they're taking over 400-acre farmland to grow and sell their produce across China. /VCG Photo