An aerial view of vegetable greenhouses in Shouguang, Weifang, Shandong province. [Photo/VCG]

Shandong province has long been a leading producer and exporter of vegetables in China. With its superior quality and abundant varieties, Shandong vegetables are held in high esteem in both domestic and international markets.

In 2023, Shandong's agricultural product exports reached 147.6 billion yuan ($20 billion), a year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent and accounting for 21.2 percent of China's total agricultural product exports . Shandong is the top exporter of agricultural products in China.

Anqiu city, Weifang, Shandong, exports more than 400,000 tons of vegetables annually, with 180 agricultural product enterprises having export records. Its vegetable exports have long accounted for over 60 percent of Weifang's total and one-seventh of Shandong's, with markets in over 80 countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, Europe, and America. It is a well-known "vegetable basket of the world."

Hualong town in Shouguang city, Weifang, is not only a renowned carrot production area in China but also the largest carrot export base in China, with its annual exports accounting for over 65 percent of the national total. The town's annual carrot trade reaches 800,000 tons, with markets in over 20 countries and regions, including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

In recent years, in order to ensure the uninterrupted supply of carrots throughout the year, local vegetable farmers and enterprises in Hualong town adopted a multi-base planting strategy, expanded the planting area by 150,000 mu (over 10,000 hectares), and carried out "planting and harvesting in rotation" by utilizing climate differences in different regions, thereby meeting the needs of foreign orders. Effectively ensuring a stable supply of raw materials is key to expanding overseas markets.

By leveraging its production advantages, expanding planting bases, and promoting the application of new technologies, Shandong hopes to continue providing high-quality and safe vegetables to the world.