Grower bridges gap between HK, Ningxia

Choi sum, a leaf vegetable originally grown in the southern part of China, has found a place to grow in the northwest region of the country thanks to a young man from Hong Kong who sells his crop to residents of his hometown and the Pearl River Delta region.

"Choi sum tagged as having been grown in Ningxia is popular in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region, even though those grown in Ningxia usually cost more than those grown in other places," Peter Yeung said.

Ningxia choi sum is the bridge that has brought people in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Hong Kong together, he said.

As a result of high temperatures and heavy rain, very few varieties of choi sum are grown in southern China in summer, meaning that the best is only available in Guangdong province and Hong Kong in the autumn and winter.

To make it available in summer, Yeung began to grow the vegetable in 2008 in Zhongning county in Ningxia.

"We tried to grow in several areas, and finally we found an environment in Ningxia with large temperature differences between day and night, plentiful sunshine and low rainfall, which is most suited to growing choi sum," Yeung said.

Ningxia choi sum has fleshy leaves and tastes sweeter than what is grown in Guangdong, he said.

Currently, Yeung grows vegetables and fruits on 253 hectares of land. He grows watermelons from May to autumn and vegetables, including choi sum, mustard and pea sprouts, later in the year. His produce sells well in markets in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao.