Strawberry fields are forever

Updated: 2012-02-24 07:54

By Luo Wangshu (China Daily)

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BEIJING - If you step into one of Yu Li's greenhouses, you will smell what's growing before you see it.

Green leaves cover the earth as sweet fragrance does the air, but crouch down and there lies the red fruit tucked beneath, dressed in sparkling dewdrops, like sleeping beauty waiting for her prince.

Located in the Changping district of Beijing's northwest suburbs, Yu's family, like other local residents, started growing strawberries in 2005, and they have now developed it into a booming business.

Indeed, the strawberry has brought prosperity to Changping in general and greatly changed the lives of local people.

"We built three greenhouses at first," said 36-year-old Yu. "Now my family owns 20."

All seven adult members of Yu's family are devoted to the strawberry business.

"Planting strawberries has brought wealth to my whole family," she said. "I earned 15,000 yuan ($2,400) from each greenhouse last year."

Previously, Yu had worked as an accountant in a local hospital where she earned 20,000 yuan a year.

But looking after strawberries demands more time and effort than looking after numbers.

"I have to be involved in every step, from buying seedlings, cultivating them, advertising, selling and so on," Yu added. "While as an accountant, I didn't need to worry much after 5 pm."

Strawberry fields are forever 

Two children taste fresh strawberries at the International Strawberry Symposium in Beijing's Changping district on Saturday. This was the first time that the four-yearly event, which ended on Wednesday, was hosted by an Asian nation. More than 100 types of strawberry were on display this year. Zhang Yu / Xinhua

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