Kale rises from bitter harvest to popular, healthy 'superfood'

Farmers pick kale in Gaomi in May. ZHANG TAO/FOR CHINA DAILY

Innovation, expansion

Wang has taken her commitment to kale a step further by developing a range of kale-based products. Her family farm has partnered with several large processing companies to create over 40 kale products, including noodles, dumplings, pastries, yogurt and vegetable juices.

"These products have been well-received by consumers. I want more Chinese people to enjoy this healthy vegetable," Wang said.

She refers to her kale as "pregnancy and infant-grade food", meaning it is safe for pregnant women and babies.

Her farming practices adhere to strict standards, and she does not use herbicides, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, the farm relies on physical pest control methods, such as insect traps, and uses bio-organic fertilizers made from soybeans and peanuts.

"Kale contains an insect-resistant element, so it's not easy for the vegetable to attract insects, making it safe from the need to use pesticides," said Wang Fengde from the Institute of Vegetables.

"There was a time we cultivated cabbage and kale in the lab, and after some time, we noticed that the cabbage was infested with aphids, while the kale remained unaffected," he added.

The bio-organic fertilizers that farmer Wang uses for her kale are easy to produce. On the 400 hectares of farmland run by her, she grows wheat, corn and soybeans, which supply enough materials for making fertilizers.

"We have the materials and skills, so we make bio-organic fertilizers on our own," she said.

The farm is currently collaborating with the institute on establishing a kale research base this year. The research team includes eight PhD and master's holders.

"The institute will focus on developing new kale varieties and improving growing techniques," said Wang Fengde.

"We are working on growing kale that is also rich in selenium," he added. Selenium is believed to further boost the health benefits of kale.