Plant producers, scientists, and consumers are taking part in the 7th annual International Strawberry Symposium in Beijing's Changping District. This is the first time the 5-day event, held every four years, is being hosted in Asia. Our reporter He Beibei takes an in depth look into Beijing's strawberry industry.

Plant producers, scientists, and consumers are taking part in the 7th annual International Strawberry Symposium in Beijing's Changping District.

This greenhouse in Beijing's Changping district is filled with the sweet smell of success. Usually, only the strawberries are picked. But here, workers are clipping the stems and flowers as well.

Zhang Ying, Business Manager of San Zi Strawberry Plantation, said, "They are thinning the plants. Originally there are 5 flowers on one plant; we will remove 2 of them, to ensure the size and taste of the rest.

According to the plantation's business manager, the annual yield of each 100 meter long greenhouse is 3000 kilograms, during the growth cycle from December to May. This plantation has 72 greenhouses. Workers place pest strips and bags of carbon dioxide are used to accelerate the effect of light on the plants.

Wei Changru, technician of San Zi Strawberry Plantation, said, "The bees are used to help pollinate the fruits. The strawberry is a hermaphrodite, but in the greenhouse there is neither wind nor insects to help it, so we use bees. There are more than five thousand bees inside the box."

A group of American representatives from this year's Strawberry Symposium came to share in the experience.

Mike Conway, Business Development Manager of Trical Incorporated, Pacific and Asia, said, It is estimated that this year strawberry production in Changping will reach 10 million kilograms, more than 80 percent of the total production in Beijing.

For the first time, the district government has invested 1 million Yuan worth of subsidies to strawberry growers. This plantation is hoping the symposium will boost sales and improve business ties with foreign investors and producers.