In 1928, apple was first introduced into Zhaotong. The advantage of Zhaotong apple production is its unique geographical environment and climate advantage. It is located in the cold highlands at low latitudes and high altitudes in southern China, with strong sunlight and large temperature difference, fertile soil and natural selenium, which makes Zhaotong apples "early, sweet and fragrant. , Crisp and colorful". Firstly, it is early maturity. In Zhaotong, the temperature rises rapidly in early spring. Apples will bloom and set fruits in late March. Early-maturing varieties will be available in early July and late-maturing varieties in mid-September, which are 20-30 days earlier than apples in Shandong, Liaoning, Shaanxi, and Gansu. The second is the sweetness. The main producing area of Zhaotong apples belongs to the southern temperate climate, with no severe cold in winter and no scorching heat in summer, small annual temperature difference, large daily temperature difference, sufficient light and heat, and moderate rainfall, making Zhaotong apples high in sugar and moderately sweet and sour. The third is strong fragrance. Zhaotong apples are rich in 113 kinds of aromatic compounds in 9 categories, including esters, alcohols, heterocycles, and benzene derivatives, with a unique and strong fragrance. Fourth, the taste is crisp. Zhaotong apples have a large accumulation of nutrients, dense cytoplasm, small gaps, rich pectin, delicate flesh, tender, juicy, crispy and refreshing. Fifth, the color is bright. Zhaotong is located in the low-latitude plateau, and the sunshine time is long. Zhaotong apples are naturally natural, and they are called Zhaoyang red when they are dried on the plateau. Some of the varieties introduced in Zhaotong are even better in color and quality than the original place, such as Gala and Asus.

Shaotong apple won the Silver Award of the Second China Agriculture Expo, the Gold Award of the 14th China International Agricultural Products Fair, the 2016 "China's Top Ten Most Influential Apple Regional Public Brands", and the 2017 "China Top 100 Agricultural Products Regional Public Service" Brand", the first place in the category of famous agricultural products and fruits in Yunnan Province in 2018.