1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 406 Prosperous Vegetable Market
evening.

The sun was now just a sliver of its outline, and the hundreds of acres of bustling vegetable market looked soft and warm in the glow of the setting sun.

Chen Jiazhi strolled through the area, enjoying the gentle breeze and the warmth of the setting sun, a contented smile on his face.

Ao Dehai beside me was still talking about his recent gains. Who would have thought that in just over half a year, the prosperous vegetable market could be described as "making a fortune every day"?

Prior to this, no one in the market had anticipated such great potential for exports to Japan, especially broccoli, which generated astonishing profits.

Ao Dehai suggested planting more broccoli.

Hearing this, Chen Jiazhi said, "Broccoli is good. We can try growing it on a small scale in the summer to see if we can succeed."

"But we mainly grow leafy vegetables. Besides the Japanese market, there will also be great opportunities in the southern market."

"We'll plant the broccoli in late summer or early autumn."

May in Shanghai brings both the sunshine and warmth of early summer, and the humid, muggy heat of the period before the plum rain season.

But it's not the rainy season yet, so it's still quite comfortable overall. It's cool in the mornings, evenings, and at night, and there's a significant temperature difference between day and night.

This climate is perfect for growing leafy vegetables.

The Pearl River Delta region has gradually entered a period unsuitable for planting and is also threatened by natural disasters.

In the event of a disaster, the prosperous vegetable market can be mobilized for disaster relief.

Chen Jiazhi offered his planting suggestions, which Ao Dehai then decided to adopt directly.

He brought up growing broccoli to steer the conversation toward planting plans and to hear the boss's thoughts.

The boss's decisions are always brilliant, resulting in bountiful harvests every time.

This has been the case for him for nearly three years since he started working for the boss. The booming vegetable market's daily profits are also due to the boss's planning. Ao Dehai has long been deeply impressed.

"After the broccoli harvest, I will also plant leafy vegetables on these 200 acres of land."

Chen Jiazhi said calmly, "We can consider expanding the base area in the second half of the year. The current area of ​​580 mu is no longer sufficient to meet the demand."

Ao Dehai nodded and said, "Yes, I also think we can rent some land and plant more broccoli in the second half of the year. Taihang Co., Ltd. of Japan hopes that we can produce frozen broccoli."

Chen Jiazhi thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "Then you still need to hurry up and make money to cover the cost of repairing the factory."

Most of the money earned from the recent booming vegetable market will be transferred to invest in the new base.

It was precisely because of the booming vegetable market that Chen Jiazhi dared to build a new base in Zengcheng.

The surplus funds were even enough for Chen Jiazhi to distribute a mid-year bonus and dividends.

Ao Dehai pondered for a moment, then stopped in his tracks. "Then I'll have to grow leafy vegetables more aggressively and speed up the pace. Will the company handle the sales?"

Chen Jiazhi laughed and said, "As long as the quality is up to standard, we'll take as many as you have this summer."

"I understand."

Ao Dehai recalled a morning two years ago, a lesson about crop rotation.

He tested it many times over the next two years, and now he manages even more land.

Judging from his expression, Chen Jiazhi knew that another gambling addict had been activated.

But it doesn't matter. The climate in Shanghai is different from that in the Pearl River Delta, so it's worth taking a gamble.

You won't lose money as long as you win once.

Given the current distribution of Chinese cabbage production areas, the chances of accurately predicting market trends are quite considerable.

We walked all the way to the broccoli field.

Most of the flower buds have been removed, exposing the bare stem tips, some of which have sprouted new lateral buds from the base.

Chen Jiazhi squatted down and broke off a side shoot.

"Actually, you need to be patient. These side shoots can gradually grow into new flower buds, but they grow slowly, the flower buds are small, and they are not very firm."

"It's not worth it. With that time, you could probably grow a whole crop of leafy vegetables."

Ao Dehai also squatted down, deeply influenced by Chen Jiazhi's efficiency philosophy, but he did not agree with this approach.

Cut it if you need to.

Chen Jiazhi pondered and said, "It depends on the variety. Some broccoli varieties grow side branches quickly. About 10 days after the main head is harvested, 3 to 5 side heads can be harvested, each weighing about 200g."

Ao Dehai frowned and said, "But if we remove the side ball, the main ball can grow even larger, so the yield per acre won't be much different. Also, the size of the side ball doesn't meet export requirements, so it won't fetch a good price."

Removing lateral branches and buds was a key factor in the success of this batch of broccoli, and Ao Dehai believes this is a very important experience.

Chen Jiazhi laughed and said, "But if we process it into frozen broccoli, keeping the side heads will be more profitable."

Ao Dehai was taken aback.

He had specifically researched the process of quick-freezing broccoli, which involves cutting it into small, edible pieces before blanching and cooling it...

In other words, the value of a small ball on the side is the same as that of a main ball.

With the increase in yield, the output value per acre of broccoli harvested from the side bulbs will increase significantly.

"That's really true. I've learned something new. Boss, it seems you should visit Prosperity more often."

"Haha, if I never come empty-handed, I'll be drained dry sooner or later."

Ao Dehai smiled and said that if the development of quick-frozen broccoli is to be achieved, this method of harvesting side branches is indeed very valuable.

"Boss, is it possible to buy these seeds that allow you to harvest the side lobes about ten days after harvesting the main lobes?" "I'll have someone keep an eye out for them."

Chen Jiazhi didn't know if this variety existed now. He only came up with this planting method after hearing that the Japanese had expressed a demand for quick-frozen broccoli.

Frozen broccoli is essentially pre-cooked food; the broccoli with a shelf life of 2 years in later chain restaurants is this type.

It is especially popular in Japan.

Where there is demand, there is demand, and Ao Dehai has made this one of his goals for the next stage. However, upon hearing Ao Dehai mention broccoli seeds, Chen Jiazhi also recalled that Yuanmou is very suitable for breeding and producing cruciferous vegetables.

Broccoli is also a cruciferous crop, so it can be included in the research scope of Yuanmou.

After walking for a while, the sun disappeared completely, and the busy vegetable farmers returned to their rented rooms one after another. Chen Jiazhi, who was wearing short sleeves, also felt a slight chill.

If you were in Guangzhou, it would still be hot and humid right now.

Back in his office, Tan Wangji was still discussing with Fang Shaohua the situation regarding the export of vegetables from Fanrong Market to Japan.

Chen Jiazhi had already asked Xue Jun to book two tables of food and drinks at a nearby restaurant and invited the main managers to go out for dinner together.

It was only then that Qi Yongfeng, who had gone out to run errands, returned.

Chen Jiazhi called him over and sat down next to him, only to find out that he was now in charge of logistics and transportation, running everything from dispatching trucks from the market to connecting with the port.

This greatly impressed Chen Jiazhi; what was once a somewhat reckless man could now do meticulous work.

It would be more appropriate to hand over Jiangxin Market to Qi Yongfeng.

After a hearty meal, Chen Jiazhi kept Qi Yongfeng behind for a detailed discussion, asking him to return to Jiangxin Vegetable Market as its manager.

Qi Yongfeng laughed heartily and for a long time, still laughing when he got home.

Upon seeing this, Huang Juan asked, "What are you grinning about? Did you find some money?"

"I'm happier than if I found money," Qi Yongfeng said. "I want to be the market manager of Jiangxin Vegetable Market."

Huang Juan, who was busy tidying up the house, paused. "Really...really?"

Qi Yongfeng nodded. "The main purpose of Brother Zhi's trip is to get me to be the manager of Jiangxin Vegetable Market."

During the day, when Farm Manager Ao and the boss were inspecting the fields at the vegetable market, many people saw them, and their smiles were no different from Qi Yongfeng's at night.

Many people speculate that the market has been making a lot of money recently, which is why the owner is so eager to come here. Huang Juan also thinks so.

Hearing Qi Yongfeng's words, Huang Juan found it hard to describe her feelings.

But Qi Yongfeng had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Seeing that several elderly people who came from the Dongxiang vegetable market had become market managers, but Yongfeng had not, he hid his feelings of disappointment very well. But as his wife, Huang Juan knew the deep sense of loss in his heart.

Even though the waiting time isn't long, there's still a difference in the order of arrival for the field managers.

However, now that the boss has personally come to invite them, the one in charge is still Jiangxin Vegetable Market, which is considered by many to be the headquarters.

Huang Juan was filled with emotion, but she smiled and said, "Congratulations, Director Qi, your wish has come true."

In his hotel room, Fang Shaohua had a habit of taking notes, and he was currently reviewing the notes he had made during the day.

During his job interview, his boss cited the example of seasonal tariffs on broccoli in Japan, which impressed him greatly. He then developed a planting plan based on the tariff changes, which resulted in high profits.

Today, I visited the prosperous market, talked with many people who had experienced it firsthand, learned about what happened, and looked at the contract documents.

He then realized that the value of this case was far greater than he had ever imagined.

Based on the current situation, 200 mu of broccoli may generate nearly 400 million yuan in output value.

Earning 3 yuan per mu in just over three months is more profitable than planting gold.

With the addition of leafy greens exports, the export value of Fanrong Vegetable Market reached 530 million yuan in the past two weeks.

Fang Shaohua stared blankly at the information recorded in his notebook.

It was a bit chilly in the morning, so Chen Jiazhi wore an extra layer of clothing.

He originally planned to return to Huacheng today, but Ao Dehai asked him to stay another day.

The export of vegetables from the market has attracted the attention of Baoshan District, and leaders often come down to conduct research and inspections.

When Chen Jiazhi came, Ao Dehai invited Liao Ming, the director of the Baoshan District Vegetable Office, to sit down and chat for an hour.

Chen Jiazhi did not reject it; on the contrary, he appreciated Ao Dehai's initiative to integrate into the local community.

This means that Ao Dehai has also broken free from the constraints of his role as a vegetable farmer and learned to handle problems from the perspective of a farm manager.

It generated more than $60 in foreign exchange in just over half a month, which is not a lot for the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

However, this is of great research significance for the vegetable industry, and Chen Jiazhi and Liao Ming were also discussing this issue.

“Some vegetable markets in the Pearl River Delta have started to expand northward. As far as I know, some people have also invested in Cantonese cuisine bases in Beijing, planting and promoting vegetables such as bok choy and kale.”

"I just chose Shanghai because it is not only a leading economic city in China, but also has high consumption potential."

The port is also close to Japan, giving it a geographical advantage in exporting vegetables to Japan. Recent results only prove my judgment was correct.

Liao Ming listened attentively, occasionally asking questions or offering his own opinions.

The success of the prosperous vegetable market in generating foreign exchange through exports has provided another reference path for the vegetable industry in Baoshan District.

In addition to exporting early spring vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplants, and tomatoes grown in greenhouses, we can broaden our horizons further.

(End of this chapter)