In the traditional off-season for farming during the winter, the modern parks in Zhangjiagang are bustling with life: little cherry tomatoes are vibrantly red and blueberries are ripening.
Blueberries ripen in a modern agriculture park in Zhangjiagang. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
In recent years, the area has empowered the development of local agriculture buoyed by modern facilities and the latest technology, advancing production towards a new pattern of year-round continuity and diversified industries.
At the Gengyun Family Farm in Daxin town, 10 mu (0.67 hectares) of intelligent greenhouses show their tomato plants are thriving under such conditions. These greenhouses use an intelligent system to regulate water and nutrients, and maintain the temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. This enables off-season planting and year-round continuous production, with the first batch of tomatoes about to mature and enter the market.
Meanwhile, in Gangcheng Ecological Orchard at Yonglian village, Nanfeng town, the focus is on special varieties, such as the introduction of off-season blueberries. Across six greenhouses covering a total of 20 mu, blueberries are pruned and thinned during winter, allowing the fruit to be available for market around the Chinese New Year. The picking period extends to three months, overcoming traditional planting time limitations and achieving a dual improvement in yield and efficiency.
Moving forward, Zhangjiagang plans to continue advancing facility upgrades, further driving rural vitalization and farmers' income growth.