Blueberry biz boosts local agriculture

The Tangquan Real Estate Family Farm in Hedong district, Linyi city, once home to strawberry greenhouses, is now a high-tech blueberry farm. Spearheaded by the entrepreneur Li Zhifeng, this shift marks his second foray into agricultural innovation.

Li Zhifeng checks the growth of the blueberries. [Photo by Zhang Shengquan/for chinadaily.com.cn]

This year, Li introduced the L11 blueberry variety, a high-yield, early-maturing variety known for its exceptional flavor and nutritional benefits. "Markets for fruits like persimmons and strawberries were becoming saturated," Li explained. "And during a trip to Dandong, Liaoning, in the spring, I saw ready-to-eat blueberries grown in pots, which gave me the idea to shift toward blueberries. It fits market demand perfectly."

Exterior of the blueberry greenhouse. [Photo by Zhang Shengquan/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The L11 blueberries, known for their sweet-tangy taste and rich nutritional benefits, including improved vision, boosted immunity, and heart health, are highly competitive in a growing market.

With technical expertise from Liaoning and the IoT automation, the farm ensures precision in its operations, resulting in top-tier product quality and yield efficiency. Li has bold plans for the future. "We aim to develop 10 hectares of high-temperature greenhouses entirely dedicated to blueberries," he said. "With a strong market for high-quality varieties, we hope to bring more local farmers into the fold and contribute to rural economic growth." (Edited by Lin Li)