In Xinfadi wholesale market, one of the biggest in Beijing, more than 10 million kg of vegetables were sold each day to more than 20,000 people in the days leading up to Spring Festival, according to Beijing Evening News.

Organic vegetables - vegetables grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers - have become more and more popular, according to Zhang Chenglai, a market management official.

Land used for growing organic vegetables now amounts to 3,330 hectares, and the figure is expected to rise to 40,000 by the year 2002, according to the paper.

A network to monitor the remains of pesticides found in vegetables has been set up in Beijing, Tianjin and throughout Hebei Province. Unified supervision methods and standards will be drawn up.

The newspaper also said many new varieties of vegetables coming onto the market from the south and abroad were proving to be popular among Beijing consumers although they were more expensive.

During a three-day sale of vegetables from south China’s Hainan Province held at the market, more than 150 tons of vegetables were sold, said Zhang.

Vegetables were also presented as gifts to relatives and friends during Spring Festival.

In the days leading up to the lunar new year, almost 600 boxes of various vegetables were sold each day, according to Zhang.

He said prices of vegetables rose by almost 1 yuan (US$0.12) per kg during the festival, in line with prices last year.

More than 600 kinds of farm produce, including fruit and vegetables, now have registered trademarks in Beijing, according to the Beijing Administration of Industry and Commerce.

Residents in big cities in China have in the past consumed large amounts of animal products and not enough vegetables, a dietary pattern which is not considered to be healthy, according to the international dietary guidelines adopted by the Chinese Nutrition Society.

The society advises people to eat plenty of vegetables as a rich supply of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

Eating more greens is thought to help prevent cardiovascular diseases, strengthen immunity to other illnesses and reduce other health risks, even cancer, according to the society

(China Daily 02/06/2001)