The 15th Baihe Strawberry Cultural Festivalwillkick off on December 6, running through March next year. Coinciding with the large-scale market launch of Baihe strawberries, the event offers ruralfunintegrating agricultural experiences, local produce consumption, and cultural displays.

Baihe Town in Qingpu Districtisrenowned as the "home ofstrawberries." Baihe strawberries are known for their plump shape and balanced sweet-sour taste, making them a consumer favorite. Aside from some new varieties, the main harvest season for Baihe strawberries this year is expected in early December.

This year, Baihe's strawberry cultivation covers 5,752 mu (383 hectares), with cooperative farms accounting for 89.36percentof the total area, while individual growers show a decreasing trend compared to previous years. The primary variety is "Hongyan" (Benihoppe), making up 98percentof the crop. The estimated yield is around 8,700 tons.

Strawberries are a key specialty agricultural product of Baihe Town. According to relevant statistics, on average, one out of every three strawberries produced in Shanghai comes from Baihe.

In recent years, Baihe’s strawberry industry has strengthened collaboration between research, education, and production. Supported by technological R&D, the town has continuously advanced the application of modern equipment to improve strawberry quality and enhance the industry's value.

Currently, advanced strawberry cultivation techniques like vertical-shelf planting and integrated water-fertilizer systems have been widely adopted in Baihe. In early December, a digital-intelligent strawberry plant factory is set to be completed and become operational in the town. Covering 11 mu, the project features a 3,456-square-meter smart glass greenhouse production area, with a total investment exceeding 35 million yuan(US$4.95 million).