Jurong Strawberries

Jurong Strawberries

　　Jurong was one of the first regions in China to cultivate strawberries. Its development scale and level of industrialized production have earned it a high reputation both nationally and across Southeast Asia. As early as the 1980s, it was honored as "China's No.1 Strawberry Township." Currently, it has developed a complete chain of industries including strawberry research, variety selection and breeding, seedling production, strawberry cultivation, processing, and export earnings. This has become an important pillar industry in the city’s strategic agricultural restructuring. The total area under strawberry cultivation has reached 40,000 mu, including 10,000 mu of greenhouse strawberries, yielding 25,000 tons annually with a production value of 115 million yuan. The industry employs 12,000 people, contributing an additional 16.8 million yuan in net income per capita for local farmers. In April 2003, it was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Strawberries" by the Organizing Committee of the China Specialties Promotion and Publicity Campaign.

　　 Jurong’s strawberry production leads the nation in several key aspects. First, it has a well-established system for breeding and propagating superior varieties. Since the early 1980s, the Zhenjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, located in Jurong, in collaboration with China Pharmaceutical University, established a base in the city for introducing high-quality strawberry seedlings, conducting regional trials, producing virus-free seedlings, and breeding. They have introduced over 40 premium large-fruited varieties from the United States, Japan, and other countries, such as Baobao Zaosheng, American No.6, Toyonoka, Mingbao, Ootsubuki Shoujo, and Fujimidori. A 200-mu base for virus-free seedlings and an 1,800-mu base for conventional seedlings have been set up. Currently, the leading strawberry varieties in Jurong—Toyonoka, Mingbao, and Ootsubuki Shoujo—consistently lead the nation in both individual fruit weight and sugar content. Second is its advanced cultivation technology system. Strawberry cultivation techniques in Jurong originate from Japan and have kept pace with developments there. Since the 1980s, at the invitation of Japanese counterparts, Jurong has dispatched 20 agricultural technicians and 200 strawberry farmers for training sessions in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, to study strawberry growing techniques. In recent years, Japanese strawberry experts Ishikawa and Kondo have visited Jurong annually to conduct technical lectures. The strawberry cultivation techniques in Jurong have earned recognition from these Japanese experts and have won multiple provincial science and technology progress awards and agricultural science and technology achievement awards. Currently, several technologies developed and tested by Jurong’s scientific personnel—including techniques for regulating strawberry flower bud differentiation, precision fertilization, and three-dimensional trellis cultivation—have been granted national technical patents. Third is its favorable ecological environment. Jurong is known for its landscape described as “five parts mountain, one part water, and four parts farmland.” It boasts beautiful rural scenery along with minimal industrial and domestic pollution. Over the past two years, Jurong has implemented the construction of a standardized demonstration zone for the pollution-free cultivation of 10,000 mu of high-quality strawberries. All stages—including seedling propagation, field production, and packaging—are strictly operated in accordance with standards. Clean production methods are promoted, utilizing biological organic fertilizers and biopesticides, which have significantly improved strawberry quality. Coupled with the registration of exclusive trademarks such as "Yuntu" and "Tianwangsi," Jurong strawberries have successfully secured a place in supermarkets and hotels in major cities. Central and provincial news media have given considerable attention to the city’s strawberry production and development, frequently visiting local strawberry bases for coverage.