Food safety is a big issue in China. Environmental issues and the authenticity of products here are a concern to most. Therefore, it is important to be a knowledgeable and empowered consumer. This applies across the globe but is particularly relevant to China. Avoiding fresh produce or eating at McDonald’s to avoid food safety issues is not the answer. Buying imported food items is an option but can be expensive and environmentally unfriendly. One way of checking the quality of the food is to go to the source! I had the opportunity to visit a farm on the outskirts of Shanghai to see local food producers in action.
Rosa Grange Farm is a small farm on Chongming Island that abides by organic farming practices in cooperation with other farmers on the island. Rosa grows a variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and rice. She has up to 1000 ducks, 500 chickens, 30 geese and a few goats and pigs too! Rosa began her farming business six years ago after leaving her job as an IT college professor. Rosa explained, “I wanted my son and others to eat good safe food. I was unsure where to get it so I decided to grow my own.” Her birds happily run or swim freely around the farm eating the bugs off the crops. I noticed a plethora of all kinds of bugs, birds and butterflies. Rosa showed me some of the damage the bugs had done to her rice. It was nearly harvest time and the rice was too dense for the ducks to run through and eat the bugs. Rosa stated, “I don’t stop the bugs. I believe they belong here and must be here. There will still be enough crops to harvest.” The variety of weeds growing on the farm is another indication of the pesticide-free farming that Rosa practices. She tames the weeds simply by cutting them down. The pigs on the farm are fed scraps of produce such as gourds and melons. Rosa grows several varieties of whole grain rice. I highly recommend this article on the health benefits of brown rice over white.
Not all farms on Chongming Island use organic methods. Persistent organic pollutants and cross contamination are a concern here and indeed worldwide. However, enterprises like Rosa Grange Farm provide environmentally friendly and safe local produce that I would happily eat every day in Shanghai. At the end of my tour, Rosa prepared a beautiful meal using her own produce that included a variety of vegetables, rice, and whole blended melon fruit; a healthy and simple homemade meal that could never be purchased on Sherpa!
Rosa sells her produce online (in Chinese language only) and also through some companies that cater to the expat community. For example, I bumped into Christina from Goma Greens shortly after my farm visit. They provide boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers in Shanghai. They source local produce that either is organically grown or meets EU pesticide safety levels. They are committed to paying farmers a fair price and donate 10% of their earnings towards community projects that inspire organic farming. Goma Greens will source some of their produce from Rosa Grange Farm.
Until the next time… – Eat Well Shanghai! –
Jessica W.
