Through almost 20 procedures including classification, cleaning, steaming and boiling, drying and so on, fresh and tender cherry tomatoes become preserved fruits, the price of which is many times higher than the unprocessed fruits. On October 16, the project of ecological agriculture development with an investment of USD 24 million by Hubei HSP Alpine Vegetable Group Co., Ltd, went into operation in the logistics park of Hejiaping Town, Changyang County, as suggests commencement of deep processing of vegetables in high mountainous areas of Changyang. On the same day, Hong Kong Yongkang Agriculture Investment Co., Ltd together with five other six purchasers signed the orders of USD 58 million on the spot.

Zheng Qingzun, chairman of the group says that 240 thousand tons of vegetables planted in the local areas can be processed and 15 thousand tons of dehydrated vegetables can be produced every year when the project is put into operation, with an annual output of USD 112 million, providing nearly 2000 jobs. The corporation has started to set up cold chain logistic system and wholesale market of vegetables from high mountainous areas as well as some other supporting facilities, striving for establishment of the nationwide promotion system in 3 years and achievement of an output of USD 240 million.

As has been studied, the advantageous temperature difference in the high mountainous areas has helped the local farmers get rid of poverty and become better off in Changyang. Until the end of 2011, in the county, the annual production of vegetables planted in the high mountainous areas has reached 1 million tons, which takes respectively 30 percent and 10 percent of the provincial and national production of the share in scale and output volume, as an important “vegetable basket” for the whole country.