Greenhouses in Juancheng county bring in winter harvest

Although the outside air is chilly, the greenhouses in Huozhuang village in Fuchun town – in Juancheng county, in East China's Shandong province – are as warm as toast and bustling with activity.

A raft of fruits and vegetables – including cherry tomatoes, dragon fruit, strawberries, and celery – are growing well under artificial light and temperature controls.

What's more, right now the farmers are busy picking and selling their fresh produce.

Zhu Zhan, who owns 16 greenhouses, said he planted tomatoes, cucumbers, dragon fruit, and other high-value crops that can earn him more than 20,000 yuan ($2,810) per greenhouse per year. He's one of the several large-scale growers in the village.

A grower smiles as he carries harvested A choy – the crunchy vegetable that is similar to lettuce. [Photo by Yan Jie for chinadaily.com.cn]

To boost its rural development, Fuchun town has been promoting the greenhouse economy in recent years – building a modern facility and agriculture industry cluster with distinctive features, strong demonstration, and driving effects.

This year, the town has introduced more than 10 new and superior varieties of crops that are resistant to low temperatures, weak light, and disease.

It's also integrated the fruit and vegetable industry from seedling cultivation, planting, storage, and preservation to off-season sales. This has boosted the industry supply chain and advanced the modernization, clustering, and branding of the fruit and vegetable industry.

"Fuchun town will continue to support farmers with policies, funds and technology – guide them to develop specialist crops, provide them with technical training and management services and stimulate their enthusiasm, initiative and creativity," said a town official. (Edited by Fan Yuanyuan)