Shandong food firm's strawberries boost local economy

In the Hedong district of Linyi city – located in East China's Shandong province – dehydrated vegetables and fruit manufacturer Linyi Ruize Food Co Ltd says it is revolutionizing strawberry processing, contributing to the region's economic growth.

The company's general manager, Wang Fengxi, recently shared her insights into the food manufacturer's special approach.

"After pickling, our strawberries undergo a meticulous 24-hour baking process at about 60 degrees Celsius," she said.

"This technique preserves the strawberries' original flavor, extending their shelf life to an impressive 12 months," Wang added.

Packing gets underway at the strawberry processing plant run by Linyi Ruize Food Co Ltd. [Photo by Zhong Jiping for chinadaily.com.cn]

Originally a semi-finished food product processing enterprise, Linyi Ruize Food Co Ltd has evolved over time by adding 12 new product processing lines and has become a hit in the market.

Staff members sort out dried strawberries. [Photo by Zhong Jiping for chinadaily.com.cn]

Recent years have seen Hedong district expand its strawberry planting area, with the local strawberry industry becoming a key pillar of the region's economy.

"The establishment of our dried fruit factory has not only increased the average income for local villagers from 40,000 to 60,000 yuan ($5,585-$8,378) per mu (one mu equals 0.067 hectares) but has also created over 400 job opportunities in the vicinity," Wang said.

"This initiative has also stimulated strawberry greenhouse cultivation in 10 neighboring villages, fostering both online and onsite sales channels," she added. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)