Donggang strawberries finding favor overseas

With the Changbai Mountains blocking the cold air from the north and the Yellow Sea bringing warm and humid air from the south, Donggang enjoys a mild climate compared with other northeastern cities. Sufficient sunlight, rainfall and fertile soil rich in organic matter make the city conducive to cultivating high-quality strawberries, Jiang explained.

New technology applications have also advanced the productivity and quality of strawberries. Jiang said that through a smart temperature monitoring system, farmers can now monitor and control temperatures inside the greenhouse between 5 and 28 C through their smartphones.

"Having adopted the internet of things and other digital technologies, every strawberry produced by our company is traceable," said Ma, also the director of the local strawberry-growing association. When customers scan QR codes on strawberry boxes, information such as date of picking, the producer and the cultivation process will pop up on their phones.

While Ma's fresh strawberries have gradually won the favor of international customers due to their high quality, rapid customs clearance has also made it possible for more Donggang strawberries to be exported.

Donggang Customs has launched a special green channel for fresh strawberries, expediting declaration and inspection procedures to minimize the clearance time. Ma said that through the channel, it takes less than 12 hours for the fruit to clear customs.

"In the future, we will continue to expand our export business and make the world fall in love with Donggang strawberries!" Ma said.

Xinhua