Early blueberry harvest begins in Songjiang

The first blueberries of the season have debuted in Shanghai's Songjiang district, with Taihe Farm in Maogang town beginning to offer early-ripened blueberries, thanks to advanced technology and meticulous cultivation, providing off-season availability.

Inside the farm's greenhouses, the air is filled with a subtle floral fragrance as clusters of delicate white flowers adorn rows of neatly arranged young plants, with early-ripening blueberries resembling tiny purple gems among the branches. Farmers are busy thinning and securing the flowers to ensure an abundant harvest.

Farmers thin flowers and secure branches. [Photo/WeChat ID: sh_songjiang]

Taihe Farm's blueberry plantation spans 82 acres (33.2 hectares), primarily growing the L11 and Eureka varieties. L11, an early-ripening variety, began small-scale harvesting during the Spring Festival and continues to surprise consumers this spring.

Ripe blueberries on the branches. [Photo/WeChat ID: sh_songjiang]

Blueberries nearing ripeness. [Photo/WeChat ID: sh_songjiang]

To accelerate the harvest, the farm uses geothermal heat pumps to warm the greenhouses at night. Combined with bee pollination and precise water and fertilizer management, these measures effectively shorten the growth cycle while maintaining fruit quality.

Taihe Farm's blueberries will be widely available from mid-March through May, with options for picking and retail sales, allowing visitors to enjoy fresh, high-quality fruits.