The city of Zhangjiakou sells Beijing 2.4 million tons of vegetables every July to September, which accounts for 40 percent of the capital's vegetables for the period, and Zhangjiakou’s market has been improving in recent years, making it an important source of income.
Six major vegetable growers are the counties of Zhangbei, Kangbao, Guyuan, Shangyi, Chongli and Chicheng and Zhangjiakou considers these areas important for a sales network. The local government has gotten farmers to form producer organizations and has encourage vegetable sellers to set up a sales network that reaches Beijing, resulting in 80 organizations that provide vegetables specifically for Beijing and 31 nearby towns that are vegetable bases producing for the Beijing market.
There are at least 50 Beijing supermarkets, such as Carrefour, Wal-Mart, and Wu-Mart, cooperating with Zhangjiakou's organizations, resulting in 350,000 tons of vegetables being sold in Beijing, in 2012.
Zhangjiakou now has 50,000 mu (3333.33 hectares) of vegetable bases and take whatever advantage it can of its climate and transport facilities to attract the investment from Beijing to build more. There are more than 10 Beijing companies with their own vegetable bases in the six counties next to Zhangjiakou, on 30000 mu(2000 hectares)of land
Zhangjiakou has also tried to build its own produce brands, such as "Bashang" vegetables, which has growing influence. The government has also organized trade fairs and other ways to promote local vegetable brands and, on many occasions, it passes out millions of promotional items and local brands.
Zhangjiakou also advertises its brands on large along major highways of China and on 500 of Beijing's buses. |